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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Protecting Californias marine ecosystems through effective management of the states marine protected area network

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Government
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#OceanAction40816
    Description
    Description
    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.
    Partners
    Ocean Protection Council (Government), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Government), MPA Collaborative Network (Partnership)

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
    Memorandum of Understanding formalizing partnership between MPA Statewide Leadership Team and MPA Collaborative Network finalized by August 2017.
    Electronic Records Management System to improve enforcement efficiency and effectiveness of the States fish and wildlife enforcement division implemented by December 2018.
    Monitoring Action Plan to guide long-term MPA monitoring finalized by July 2018.
    MPA Statewide Leadership Team work plan actions focused on outreach and education, research and monitoring, enforcement and compliance and policy and permitting completed by June 2018.
    Financing (in USD)
    23900000
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish and Game Commission, State Lands, State Coastal Commission, State Water Boards and State Department of Parks and Recreation, National Marine Sanctuaries, and National Parks Service participat
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 June 2017 (start date)
    01 December 2018 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ocean Protection Council on behalf of the State of California
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Sacramento, California, United States of America
    Ocean Basins
    North Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine and coastal ecosystems management
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
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    Contact Information

    Jenn Eckerle, Deputy Director, Ocean Protection Council