Californias Marine Protected Areas Susan Ashcraft California - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

California’s Marine Protected Areas Susan Ashcraft California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Ocean Communicators Alliance Workshop, San Francisco April 3, 2013

Overview  Background: Mandate for MPAs in California  Status of statewide MPA network  North central coast MPAs  MPA Outreach  Role of partnerships  CDFW partner resources

Background: MPA Mandate Marine Life Protection Act (1999)  Requires redesign of California’s system of MPAs to meet specific goals  Applies to state waters (0-3 miles offshore)  Local knowledge and science incorporated  Identifies CDFW as the lead managing agency

Status of Redesigned MPA Network North Coast (20) Dec 2012 North Central Coast (25) Note: San Francisco Bay * May 2010 planning is on hold Central Coast (29) Sep 2007 South Coast (50) Jan 2012

Before and After Redesign 1999 2013 Area with Area with Area MPAs MPAs Without 2.7% 16.1% MPAs ( 0.2% no-take ) 83.9% (9% no-take)

North Central Coast MPA Network NUMBER: • 22 MPAs • 3 SMRMAs • 6 special closures AREA: • 20% of region’s state waters • ( 11% no-take)

MPA Management  California Department of Fish and Wildlife : Trustee agency responsible for managing o California’s living resources and habitats Lead agency for state MPAs o  CDFW MPA Management Tasks: Regulatory process o Public outreach o Enforcement o Managing scientific collecting o Monitoring o Adaptive management o

MPA Outreach: CDFW Efforts  As lead managing agency, CDFW is responsible for providing MPA regulations to the public Purpose: Increase awareness and understanding o Facilitate compliance o Support enforcement o Encourage informed enjoyment, stewardship o MPA effectiveness o o

MPA Outreach: CDFW Efforts  Outreach Approach o Broad dissemination o Regional and statewide scale o Diverse tools • Print and online • Notices/posters • Detailed guides • Online resources (redesigned website) • MPA Mobile website • Direct public interaction

MPA Outreach Partners  CDFW relies on partners for MPA outreach Help distribute MPA materials o Leverage resources o Fill gaps o Local-scale work o Reach more diverse audiences o Photo: CDFW Communicate the importance of MPAs o Build stewardship and enjoyment of ocean o resources Photo: Rebecca Garwood

MPA Outreach Partners  Diverse community of participants are engaged: “Key communicators” o Agencies & elected officials (federal, state, o local) Non-governmental organizations o Photo: CDFW Private foundations o Tribes o Community members & businesses o Academic institutions and aquaria o Photo: Rebecca Garwood

Importance of Partnership Coordination  Local outreach efforts are welcome  Please coordinate with CDFW: Coordination is vital for program success!  Why bother? For product effectiveness and enforcement o effectiveness To meet local MPA goals and MPA network o goals Exchange information o Maximize regional efficiency and o effectiveness Ensure cohesion and consistency o

MPA Outreach Partner Coordination  Lessons Learned in Coordination – Examples of success  Example : America’s Cup MPA pledge and Photo: CDFW aquarium display Photo: Rebecca Garwood

MPA Outreach Partner Coordination  Lessons Learned in Coordination – Examples of success  Example : MPA sign development with Monterey Bay Photo: CDFW Sanctuary Foundation Photo: Rebecca Garwood

MPA Outreach Partner Coordination  Lessons Learned in Coordination – Examples of success  Why coordination worked : Early contact with o CDFW Kept CDFW involved Photo: CDFW o as product evolved Included accurate & o consistent CDFW language Identified solutions o together Both CDFW and o partners continued to learn, and benefitted

MPA Outreach Partner Coordination  Lessons Learned in Coordination – Challenges  Risks of not coordinating: Enforcement experience Unintended effects/ eroded benefits from incomplete , inconsistent o or incorrect information Photo: CDFW  These lessons learned have helped CDFW develop guidelines for partner products

Partner Coordination: CDFW Resources  CDFW has committed resources to support partner coordination o MPA Outreach Coordination Project (formed in 2012) o Guidance, templates, examples o CDFW review and approval process - streamlined and... Photo: CDFW Photo: Rebecca Garwood

Partner Coordination: CDFW Resources  CDFW is taking steps to enhance coordination by compiling a written guide MPA Outreach Partners Guide o  CDFW outreach priorities  Content standards & guidelines  Graphic templates and examples  CDFW review process Photo: CDFW Courtesy of Jim Patterson Photo: Rebecca Garwood

Partner Coordination: CDFW Resources  CDFW is taking steps to enhance coordination by compiling a written guide: MPA Outreach Partners Guide o  Expected Completion: Late 2013 – Early 2014  Available today: Quick reference guide, review process, contacts Photo: CDFW Courtesy of Jim Patterson Photo: Rebecca Garwood

Wrap-up  Organizations can best help by working in coordination with us. Please keep CDFW informed of developing projects o (early) CDFW guidance and review will focus on what we do best o (e.g., regulations text, MPA content, enforcement experience) That way, you can focus on what you do best! o (e.g., local needs, audience focus, format specialties)  Input and ideas welcome!

Thank you! Photo: K. Singh Photo: CDFW