2023-28MPA

Submitted by: Lisa Suatoni, Natural Resources Defense Council

Summary: Create a new SMR around Point Sal in central California or designate as SMCA if consultation with tribes determines exemptions for cultural and subsistence use is warranted.

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.

Use the slider in the image below to visualize the proposed change.

A slider-controlled map showing the existing MPA network on the left and the proposed change on the right. The map is centered around the waters of northern Santa Barbara County, California. On the left, the existing network is shown. On the right, the network is shown with the addition of Point Sal SMR, a proposed new MPA in northern Santa Barbara County.
A slider-controlled map showing the existing MPA network on the left and the proposed change on the right. The map is centered around the waters of northern Santa Barbara County, California. On the left, the existing network is shown. On the right, the network is shown with the addition of Point Sal SMR, a proposed new MPA in northern Santa Barbara County.