MPA Outreach Partnerships

To ensure consistent and accurate messaging about California’s marine protected areas (MPAs), CDFW developed the California Marine Protected Area Network Outreach and Education Guide (PDF) for your organization. CDFW approves materials that follow the guide and align with the MPA Management Program. Please feel free to send an email to AskMPA@wildlife.ca.gov or review the questions and answers below for more information.

What is the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) role in MPA education and outreach?

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.

How can my organization get involved with MPA education and outreach?

Regional link opens in new tab or windowcollaborative 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.

Where can I find MPA education and outreach resources?

CDFW has produced education and outreach materials, including an link opens in new windowMPA Outreach and Education Guide (PDF), regional brochures, maps and guidebooks, MPA-specific fact sheets, videos, a link opens in new windowseries 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 link opens in new windowMPA 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.

Why should I partner with CDFW for education and outreach?

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.

Does CDFW provide information about standards for outreach materials?

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

Does CDFW have any QR codes I can use for their MPA Mobile website?

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.