Ocean Conservancy - Start a Sea Change Sign In to update your information »
Donate Now Donate Now »
Be a hero for the ocean! Become an Ocean Partner.
E-Cards & Wallpaper
Send a free eCard to your friends and family or download one of our ocean wallpapers.
Ocean Conservancy Magazine
The Ocean in Us: Big Policy Meets Individual Action. Read the latest issue »
You Can Help
Ocean Conservancy has been chosen as part of CREDO Mobile’s annual list of social-change organizations to receive donations in 2008. Vote now »

The History of California's Marine Protected Areas

MPA Resources

Take Action to protect California's ocean

Press Releases

California's legacy of protection reaches the sea

Over 100 years ago, Teddy Roosevelt revolutionized land conservation policy by creating national parks, forests and wilderness areas. Today, these lands and the concept behind them are considered one of America’s greatest legacies. In 1999, California passed the Marine Life Protection Act becoming the first state in the US to require a comprehensive system of offshore protected areas a historic step towards transforming how our oceans are managed. In voting to create a network of underwater marine protected areas, California took a significant first step to revive fish populations and productive habitats all along the coast.

Victory on the South-Central Coast

Ocean Conservancy is leading a vigorous, multi-year campaign to establish a statewide network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in California. Our most recent success came in September 2007 when a landmark marine protected area plan went into effect for the central coast region. This plan created 29 new underwater refuges between Point Conception and Pigeon Point.

The central coast network of MPAs -- approved unanimously by California's Fish and Game Commission -- covers over 200 square miles of state waters. Click here to read more about the central coast MPAs.

California's Test Case: The Channel Islands

Prior to the implementation of  Marine Life Protection Act, a network of marine protected areas was established to protect the California's Channel Islands. This network was expanded in August 2007 when a joint state and federal effort established 11 additional MPAs in the waters surrounding the northern Channel Islands off of Santa Barbara. Planning is now underway to extend the MPA network to the north central coast from Half Moon Bay to Point Area. Read more about the new MPAs at the Channel Islands here.