At the end of 2012, the State of California completed a multi-year, science-based and stakeholder driven planning process and implemented the largest network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the United States. This globally significant network of MPAs spans over 1,100 miles of Californias coast and protects a diversity of marine wildlife and ecosystems. The resulting network designates approximately 9.4 percent of state waters (from the shoreline out to three nautical miles) as no-take MPAs, with a total of around 16 percent of state waters that protects key habitats and species.

The State of California commits to continue implementing a robust Marine Protected Area Management Program (Program) to ensure the success of Californias MPA Network at protecting structure, function and integrity of marine ecosystems and wildlife. The Program will continue to actively coordinate and engage in four focal areas that include: outreach and education; research and monitoring; enforcement and compliance; and policy and permitting. An MPA Statewide Leadership Team made up of key federal, state and non-governmental partners provides a mechanism to identify shared priorities and leverage resources. The MPA Collaborative Network, made up of 14 local groups associated with coastal counties statewide, aggregates local experts and community member volunteers to bolster capacity and resources to support the MPA Management Program. This approach creates a successful model to address capacity shortfalls that can hinder the performance of MPAs and generates social investment in the long-term success of MPAs.

Successful implementation will help ensure that Californias MPA Network is adaptively managed to support healthy thriving ocean ecosystems into the future. Californias evaluation of its MPA Network will include a focus on helping better understand how areas that reduce or remove fishing impacts may respond differently to, and potentially build resilience against, additional stressors like climate change and invasive species.