California Marine Protected Area Network

Ocean users of all types were engaged in the design and implementation of the MPA network. While there were challenges in the early stages, the adaptive management framework that came out of the process is informing how current proposed changes to the Network are being addressed. In particular, engagement with California Native American tribes has been strengthened and is informing statewide progress towards meaningful co-management of coastal and marine areas. The commercial and recreational fishing communities continue to be key partners for the state in the ongoing management of the MPA Network. Understanding how these different groups are engaging with the MPA Network and surrounding waters (or "human dimensions") will be a key aspect of the next phase of MPA monitoring and assessment in California. 

The four pillars of the California MPA Network - 1); Research and Monitoring 2); Outreach and Education; 3) Policy and Permitting; 4) Enforcement and Compliance - create the basis for ongoing, adaptive management. As both a foundation for the design of the network and the assessment of its performance, the four pillars ensure that ecological and social goals are being pursued simultaneously. 

Baseline monitoring and research on ecological connectivity were essential in the design of the Network. Recent assessment has shown that ecological connectivity between sites within the network are strengthening the reproductive capacity of key fish species, validating the science-based approach to the design of the Network. Ocean users continue to be engaged through regional meetings where different community members have the opportunity to weigh in on proposed changes and raise specific concerns around management actions. Permits are granted to different groups to assess specific aspects of the MPA Network performance and fill in key knowledge gaps. Information from enforcement activities helps contextualize the human dimensions of the MPA network and reveal opportunities for targeted outreach to promote compliance with regulations. 

Adaptive management is the foundation of the MPA Network. Evaluation of ecological and socioeconomic outcomes is an ongoing, iterative process that is informing the allocation of resources across different management activities in real time. Centering adaptive management allows for regular community contribution and responsiveness to the needs of different types of ocean users. It also allows for greater responsiveness to threats like climate change, which pose a significant threat to the ecological benefits provided by the Network.