August 2015
MARINE PROTECTED AREA NEWS
A monthly newsletter to keep you up to date on MPAs!

Greetings! Welcome to the August 2015 issue of the California Marine Protected Areas Education and Outreach Newsletter! This month's issue brings our attention back to the Refugio Oil Spill and how local MPAs have been affected. We've also got a plethora of exciting MPA updates from around the state! 
IN THIS ISSUE:
  • MPAs & the Santa Barbara Oil Spill
  • Central Coast MPAs doing well
  • Stronger protection for California's marine life
  • New MPA Overview Sheets from CDFW
  • Five year anniversary of North Central Coast MPAs
  • Geocache expansion
  • Calendar 
MPAs & Santa Barbara's Oil Spill

When thousands of gallons of oil spilled into the water off of Santa Barbara on May 19th, scientists involved in state-funded MPA monitoring quickly mobilized to collect

 information on impacts. 


 

This existing network--and data collected before the spill as part of ongoing MPA monitoring--will be critical in building an understanding of conditions before and after the event as the state works towards recovery of the area.   


Click here for a video on Naples SMCA and the Plains All American Pipeline Spill. 

Central Coast MPAs Looking Good

According to a recent study conducted by Cal Poly and California Sea Grant, Central Coast MPAs appear to be working! Fish populations have shown signs of rebounding in state marine protected areas off California's Central Coast, but more time is needed for them to flourish. For more information, read the published article here. 

 

  


 

Stronger Protection for California Marine Life

The California State Assembly has crafted a new bill that will further protect marine life by allowing CA Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue tickets in violation of the states fishing laws. These violations, much like traffic tickets, will allow law enforcement officials to more effectively manage MPAs.

 

CDFW MPA Overview Sheets Now Available!

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has come up with a new outreach and education tool for California's MPAs. Each MPA now has its own "MPA Overview" sheet, which succinctly summarizes site-specific information including key habitats, maps, regulations, MPA goals and objectives, and related links.


 


MPA Overview sheets are available for viewing and printing here. 

North Central Coast MPAs Celebrate 5 Years!
© C. Roy Yokingco
The North Central Coast region- spanning diverse ecosystems from Alder Creek near Point Arena south to Pigeon Point- has reached the 5-year anniversary of its established network of MPAs! 


Click here for a timeline of North Central Coast MPA monitoring. 

View the North Central Coast Regional MPA page.
Geocaches are coming to a MPA near you! 

There are several hidden along the central coast, but in the coming months expect to see them statewide .  Spend a day  exploring the coastline in search of the cache boxes and treasures within! 

The most recent cache can be found near Castle Rock just outside of Crescent City. 

Follow this link for more information, including a list of MPAs with a hidden geocache. 
Calendar
Newport Beach MPA Hikes

Take a moderate 1.3 mile low-tide hike through Newport Beach's Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area.

Be sure to wear close-toed shoes and sunscreen, and be prepared to get a little wet!  Hikes are dependent on weather and surf conditions, and participants must be 13 years and older. Admission is free! Meet at Lifeguard Tower #7 at Little Corona Beach at the corner of Poppy Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.


 

August 29th: 2:30-4:30pm

September 26th: 1:30-3:30pm

 

For more information or questions, please contact [email protected].

2015 Beneath the Waves Film Festival Announced for September

 

On September 24, 25, and 26 head to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sancturay Exploration Center for short films on ocean science, conservation, and ecology, presentations by marine scientists, hands-on activities for kids and adults, and ocean and coastal-inspired art from talented local artists. Admission is free!

 

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

35 Pacific Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA
 

For more info about the BTWFF-Santa Cruz click here.

Sanctuary Classic Fishing and Photo Contest Underway!

July 3rd- September 7th


 

The Sportfishing Conservancy kicked off the 2015 Sanctuary Classic Fishing and Photo Contest on July 3 and the Classic will run in all national marine sanctuaries through Labor Day, September 7. There is still time left to enter! The Classic is designed to encourage responsible use of the Sanctuaries and entry is free at sanctuaryclassic.org.  

"Big Blue Live" Comes to Monterey

This summer PBS and BBC are coming to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for live prime time broadcasts celebrating the marine life of Monterey Bay and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. "BigBlue Live" will be anchored from open-air studios based at the Monterey BayAquarium. 

 


 

Live segments will air on PBS over three nights, Aug. 31-Sept. 2 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET, with a second live feed to the West Coast from 8 to 9 p.m. PT. 

For more information click here. 



California Marine Sanctuary Foundation
99 Pacific Street, Building 455
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 647 - 4209