Saving Our Precious Marine Resources
For decades, there have been major concerns about the depletion of California’s marine resources. In 1999, the Marine Life Protection Act was established, mandating that the California Fish and Game Commission designate marine protected areas where fish, habitat, and other priceless marine resources are allowed to recover. This statewide network was completed at the end of 2012, with 124 designated protected areas from the Oregon border to Mexico. Specific regulations may exist for individual marine protected areas (MPAs), so contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife before fishing or conducting any type of outdoor activity in these areas. Maps, GPS coordinates, and specific information are available. To learn more, go to https://www.dfg.ca.gov/.