MPA Outreach Partnerships

As lead managing agency for California's MPA Network, CDFW is responsible for providing MPA regulations to the public. The outreach goal of CDFW is to increase MPA awareness and understanding, facilitate MPA regulatory compliance, support enforcement and encourage informed enjoyment and stewardship of MPAs.

Regional collaborative working groups have formed along California's coastline and usually represent multiple interest groups; these groups are not led by CDFW. If you have questions or would like to contact CDFW about collaboration with outreach materials please email AskMPA@wildlife.ca.gov.

CDFW has produced education and outreach materials, including an MPA Outreach and Education Guide (PDF), regional brochures, maps and guidebooks, MPA-specific fact sheets, videos, a series of informative articles on MPAs, e-newsletter articles, and MPA posters. All materials may be downloaded from the CDFW website or are available free of charge at local CDFW offices. Examples of materials produced by organizations outside of CDFW that align with CDFW guidelines can be found at the MPA Collaborative Network website. All materials found on this site that have the CDFW (or CDFG) logo have undergone a formal review process and have been approved by CDFW.

Building partnerships provides both CDFW and your organization the opportunity to make the most of available skills, resources and expertise. Partnerships ensure the ability to act quickly when an outreach or educational resource need is identified, and enhances the chances for partners' resources to reach additional audiences through a variety of approaches. Whether translating materials into different languages, providing interpretive programs to school children, or conducting trainings, partnerships allow for a broad range of complementary MPA education and outreach efforts to occur simultaneously within a region. Partners can assist CDFW efforts by providing localized knowledge in the creation of site- or MPA-specific guides, brochures, signage and interpretive panels. Overall, partnering with CDFW, whether formally or on an informational basis, can help your organization improve the accuracy and efficacy of your outreach products.

CDFW recognizes that there are varying levels of partnership, whether it is through simple coordination, cooperation, collaboration or formal partnership. There is great potential for interested organizations to work with CDFW at any of these levels. At a minimum, CDFW would like to be in communication and coordination with your efforts. Where missions overlap, we find mutual benefit in developing formal partnerships.

Before you begin your project, CDFW suggests you take a look at the MPA Outreach and Education Guide (PDF); following these guidelines will help with product development. A table of standardized MPA color coding and an approved summary of MPA regulations (PDF) are also available.

QR codes placed on signage and in publications allow smart phone users to read the code using apps that direct the users to the MPA Mobile webpage. View or download the MPA Mobile QR code.