2023-22MPA

Submitted by: Wendy Berube, Orange County Coastkeeper

Summary: Multiple actions proposed in Orange County MPAs

A legend for the maps that follow, where State Marine Reserves are shown in red, no-take State Marine Conservation Areas or SMCAs are shown in purple, SMCAs are shown in blue, State Marine Recreational Management Areas are shown in green, and Special Closures are shown in pink.
A map of the existing MPA network in Orange County, with Bolsa Bay SMCA, Bolsa Chica Basin no-take SMCA, Crystal Cove SMCA, Laguna Beach SMR, Laguna Beach no-take SMCA, and Dana Point SMCA highlighted.

View the locations of MPAs affected by this petition.

Add "non-living, geological, or cultural" to marine resource tidepool take prohibition for Crystal Cove SMCA and Dana Point SMCA

Commission Decision: Deny with alternative pathway

  • Redundant with 632(a)1(C) which prohibits tidepool take
  • Rather than adding language to regulations for specific MPAs, work with petitioner to develop proposed language to amend the take prohibition in tidepools and/or SMCAs in 632(a) or (b)

Change description of tidepools to "rocky intertidal zone" with a modified definition for Crystal Cove SMCA and Dana Point SMCA

Commission Decision: Grant with alternative pathway

  • Proposed change simplifies regulatory language and could enhance public understanding
  • Coordinate with petitioner to develop language to add definition of rocky intertidal habitat to the general provisions subsection 632(a)
  • If necessary, update the terminology in the regulations for Crystal Cove and Dana Point SMCAs for consistency

Add language regarding research, monitoring, restoration and education to regulations for all Orange County MPAs, with the exception of Upper Newport Bay SMCA

Commission Decision: Deny

  • Proposed language is redundant with existing regulations
  • Amend the general definition for SMCAs in subsection 632(a) for consistency with the recent update to the Public Resources Code

Change color of Bolsa Chica Basin no-take SMCA and Laguna Beach no-take SMCA to red on outreach maps

Commission Decision: Support with alternative pathway

  • The proposed action does not require a change to existing regulations
  • Commission supports this change with the following specifics:
    • Near-term: Support a CDFW policy change in outreach guidelines allowing the display of no-take SMCAs with red color instead of purple
    • Longer-term: Support CDFW exploring classification change for all no-take SMCAs to SMRs

View the locations of MPAs affected by this petition.