Definitions
The following terms are defined in the Marine Life Protection Act (Fish and Game Code Section 2852) and the Marine Managed Areas Improvement Act (Public Resources Code 36602 and 36700).
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- Adaptive Management [FGC 2852(a) ]
- "Adaptive management," with regard to marine protected areas, means a management policy that seeks to improve management of biological resources, particularly in areas of scientific uncertainty, by viewing program actions as tools for learning. Actions shall be designed so that, even if they fail, they will provide useful information for future actions, and monitoring and evaluation shall be emphasized so that the interaction of different elements within marine systems may be better understood.
- Marine Managed Area [PRC 36602(d)]
- "Marine Managed Area" (MMA) is a named, discrete geographic marine or estuarine area along the California coast designated by law or administrative action, and intended to protect, conserve, or otherwise manage a variety of resources and their uses. The resources and uses may include, but are not limited to, living marine resources and their habitats, scenic views, water quality, recreational values, and cultural or geological resources. General areas that are administratively established for recreational or commercial fishing restrictions, such as seasonal or geographic closures or size limits, are not included in this definition.
- Marine Protected Area [FGC 2852(c)]
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"Marine protected area" (MPA) means a named, discrete geographic marine or estuarine area seaward of the high tide line or the mouth of a coastal river, including any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora and fauna that has been designated by law, administrative action, or voter initiative to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. MPA classifications include marine life reserves (the equivalent of the state marine reserve classification), state marine parks, which allow recreational fishing and prohibit commercial extraction, and state marine conservation areas, which allow for specified commercial and recreational activities, including fishing for certain species but not others, fishing with certain practices but not others, and kelp harvesting, provided that these activities are consistent with the objectives of the area and the goals and guidelines of this chapter.
MPAs are primarily intended to protect or conserve marine life and habitat, and are therefore a subset of marine managed areas (MMAs), which are broader groups of named, discrete geographic areas along the coast that protect, conserve, or otherwise manage a variety of resources and uses, including living marine resources, cultural and historical resources, and recreational opportunities. Marine managed area classifications include state water quality protection area, state marine cultural preservation area, and state marine recreational management area.
- Marine Life Reserve [FGC 2852(d)]
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"Marine life reserve," for the purposes of this chapter, means a marine protected area in which all extractive activities, including the taking of marine species, and, at the discretion of the commission and within the authority of the commission, other activities that upset the natural ecological functions of the area, are prohibited. While, to the extent feasible, the area shall be open to the public for managed enjoyment and study, the area shall be maintained to the extent practicable in an undisturbed and unpolluted state.
Fish and Game Code Section 2860(b)(opens in new tab) further clarifies permissible activities in "marine life reserves":
"Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the taking of a marine species in a marine life reserve is prohibited for any purpose, including recreational and commercial fishing, except that the commission may authorize the taking of a marine species for scientific purposes, consistent with the purposes of this chapter, under a scientific collecting permit issued by the department."
- Take [FGC 86, CCR T14 1.80]
- "Take" means hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill.
- Finfish [CCR T14 632(a)(2)]
- "Finfish" as defined for purposes of MPA regulations, are any species of bony fish or cartilaginous fish (sharks, skates and rays). Finfish do not include amphibians, invertebrates, plants or algae.
- Pelagic Finfish [CCR T14 632(a)(3)]
- "Pelagic finfish", as defined for purposes of MPA regulations, are a subset of finfish defined as: northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), barracudas (Sphyraena spp.), billfishes* (family Istiophoridae), dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus), Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus), salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax), blue shark (Prionace glauca), salmon shark (Lamna ditropis), shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), thresher sharks (Alopias spp.), swordfish (Xiphias gladius), tunas (family Scombridae), including Pacific bonito (Sarda chiliensis), and yellowtail (Seriola lalandi). *Marlin is not allowed for commercial take.
- Coastal Pelagic Species [CCR T14 1.39]
- "Coastal pelagic species", as defined for purposes of MPA regulations, include the following: northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax), Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus), jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) and market squid (Doryteuthis (Loligo) opalescens).
- Surf Smelt [CCR T14 28.45]
- Surf Smelt (Night Smelt, Day Fish, Whitebait Smelt)
Limit: Twenty-five pounds in combination
Simplified Classification System
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In January 2000 the Resources Agency released a report titled "Improving California's System of Marine Managed Areas". The culmination of an 18-month process involving 11 state agencies and substantial public input, the report contains recommendations for a simplified classification system for state marine managed areas (MMAs). Marine protected areas are a subset of MMAs; MPAs include state marine reserves, state marine parks, and state marine conservation areas. Some MMAs (state marine cultural preservation areas and state marine water quality areas) were not addressed as part of the MLPA process.
Four of the following classifications for designating managed areas in the marine and estuarine environments were established in California Public Resources Code Section 36710 and listed in
California Code of Regulations Title 14 (CCR T14), Section 632. Where the term "marine" is used, it refers to both marine and estuarine environments.
State Marine Reserve
In a state marine reserve, it is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource, except under a scientific collecting permit issued by the department pursuant to Section 650 or specific authorization from the commission for research, restoration, or monitoring purposes. (CCR T14, Section 632 (a)(1)(A))
State Marine Park
In a state marine park, it is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living or nonliving marine resource for commercial purposes. Any human use that would compromise protection of the species of interest, natural community or habitat, or geological, cultural, or recreational features, may be restricted by the commission as specified in subsection 632(b), areas and special regulations for use. The department may issue scientific collecting permits pursuant to Section 650. The commission may authorize research, monitoring, and educational activities and certain recreational harvest in a manner consistent with protecting resource values. (CCR T14, Section 632 (a)(1)(B))
State Marine Conservation Area
In a state marine conservation area, it is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource for commercial or recreational purposes, or a combination of commercial and recreational purposes except as specified in subsection 632(b), areas and special regulations for use. The department may issue scientific collecting permits pursuant to Section 650. The commission may authorize research, education, and recreational activities, and certain commercial and recreational harvest of marine resources, provided that these uses do not compromise protection of the species of interest, natural community, habitat, or geological features. (CCR T14, Section 632 (a)(1)(C))
State Marine Recreational Management Area
In a state marine recreational management area, it is unlawful to perform any activity that would compromise the recreational values for which the area may be designated. Recreational opportunities may be protected, enhanced, or restricted, while preserving basic resource values of the area. No other use is restricted unless specified in subsection 632(b), areas and special regulations for use. (CCR T14, Section 632 (a)(1)(D))
Special Closure
A special closure is an area designated by the Fish and Game Commission that prohibits access or restricts boating activities in waters adjacent to sea bird rookeries or marine mammal haul-out sites.
Commonly Used Acronyms and Abbreviated Terms
- APA
- Administrative Procedure Act
- ASBS
- Area of Special Biological Significance
- BRTF
- MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force
- CDFW
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- CEQA
- California Environmental Quality Act
- DFG
- California Department of Fish and Game
- DPR
- (or State Parks) California Department of Parks and Recreation
- F&GC
- California Fish and Game Commission
- GIS
- Geographic information system
- I-Team
- MLPA Initiative Team (consists of initiative staff, CDFW and DPR staff, and contractors)
- LOP
- Level of protection
- MLPA
- Marine Life Protection Act
- MLPAI
- Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (established through MOU among California Natural Resources Agency, CDFW and RLFF)
- MLMA
- Marine Life Management Act
- MMA
- Marine managed area
- MMAIA
- Marine Managed Areas Improvement Act
- MOU
- Memorandum of understanding
- MPA
- Marine protected area
- NCRSG
- MLPA North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group
- NCSR
- MLPA North Coast Study Region
- RLFF
- Resources Legacy Fund Foundation
- RSG
- MLPA regional stakeholder group
- SAT
- MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team
- SIG
- MLPA Statewide Interests Group
- SMCA
- State marine conservation area
- SMP
- State marine park
- SMR
- State marine reserve
- SMRMA
- State marine recreational management area
- SCRSG
- MLPA South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group
- SCSR
- MLPA South Coast Study Region
Other Acronyms and Abbreviated Terms
- ARMP
- (California) Abalone Recovery and Management Plan
- Bay-Delta
- San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta estuary
- BCDC
- San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
- BLM
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management
- Cal/EPA
- California Environmental Protection Agency
- CBNMS
- Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary
- CCMP
- California Coastal Management Program
- CCNM
- California Coastal National Monument
- CCR
- California Code of Regulations
- CCRSG
- MLPA Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group
- CCSR
- MLPA Central Coast Study Region
- CERES
- California Environmental Resources Evaluation System
- CINMS
- Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
- CNPCP
- California Nonpoint Pollution Control Program
- CORMA
- California Ocean Resources Management Act
- CORMP
- California Ocean Resources Management Program
- CPUE
- Catch per unit of effort
- CRANE
- Cooperative Research and Assessment of Nearshore Ecosystems Program
- CSU
- California State University
- DWR
- California Department of Water Resources
- EEZ
- Exclusive Economic Zone
- EIR
- Environmental impact report
- EIS
- Environmental impact statement
- ELPF
- Environmental License Plate Fund (California)
- ESA
- Endangered Species Act (CESA = California, FESA = federal)
- FGC
- California Fish and Game Code
- FMP
- Fishery management plan
- GFNMS
- Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
- MARINe
- Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network
- MBARI
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
- MBNMS
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- NCEAS
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
- NCCRSG
- MLPA North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group
- NCCSR
- MLPA North Central Coast Study Region
- NEPA
- National Environmental Policy Act
- NMFS
- National Marine Fisheries Service (also known as NOAA Fisheries)
- NMSP
- National Marine Sanctuary Program
- NOAA
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- OPC
- California Ocean Protection Council
- OSPR
- Office of Spill Prevention and Response
- PISCO
- Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans
- PFMC
- Pacific Fisheries Management Council
- PRC
- California Public Resources Code
- PSFMC
- Pacific States Fishery Management Commission
- ROV
- Remotely operated vehicle
- RWQCB
- Regional water quality control board
- SCCWRP
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
- SCSR
- MLPA South Coast Study Region
- SFRSG
- MLPA San Francisco Bay Regional Stakeholder Group
- SFSR
- MLPA San Francisco Bay Study Region
- SLC
- California State Lands Commission
- SWRCB
- State Water Resources Control Board
- Title 14
- Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations
- UC
- University of California
- UC Sea Grant
- California Sea Grant College
- USC
- Sea Grant University of Southern California Sea Grant Program
- U.S.C.
- United States Code
- U.S.C.A.
- United States Code Annotated
- USCG
- United States Coast Guard
- USEPA
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- USGS
- United States Geological Survey