California's Marine Life Protection Act went into effect from Pigeon Point to Point Conception on Friday Sept. 21. This action established a Central Coast Region, composed of 29 marine protected areas (MPAs), from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County. These protections include long-term safe havens for rockfish and other bottom fishes, migration corridors for salmon, and a diverse environment that abalone, kelp and numerous marine mammals and seabirds need to survive.

"These new marine protected areas will help us preserve some of California's most biologically significant marine habitats while also allowing for recreational and commercial fishing," said Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman, who noted that the central coast is the first of five regions that will eventually lead to a network of MPAs along the state's 1,100-mile coastline. 

The 29 sites within the Central Coast MPA series represent approximately 204 square miles (roughly 18 percent) of state waters in the Central Coast Study Region (see list below). The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has developed a comprehensive Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/ccmpas_list.html that includes regulations and detailed maps of each of the newly formed MPAs.

This final network of Central Coast MPAs is the result of a landmark unanimous vote in April by the California Fish and Game Commission. It represents the culmination of a two-year public process that began in February of 2005. The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Program was designed to advance the conservation of marine resources for their long-term sustainable use while also enhancing outdoor recreation and ocean research opportunities along the coast. The MLPA process was invigorated as a public-private partnership with the Resources Agency, the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation, the California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, DFG and the Commission.

In addition, Gov. Schwarzenegger formed the California Ocean Protection Council and called for the development of a comprehensive Ocean Action Plan as part of the administration's progressive ocean management efforts, and in response to the Pew and U.S. Ocean Commissions' reports on the health of our oceans.