2023-25MPA

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2023-25MPA

Full petition

Bin : 1 ( DRAFT CDFW Recommendations for Bin 1 Petitions )

Submitted by: Burton Miller, Catalina MPA Collaborative

Summary: Multiple actions proposed in MPAs around Catalina Island:

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.

Long Point SMR: Change boundary from latitude and longitude to a specific distance from shore

Commission Decision: Deny

Using distance from shore to demarcate MPA boundaries is inconsistent with CDFW's Feasibility Guidelines. This type of boundary could also decrease enforceability, resulting in reduced protection of marine resources

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 Long Point SMR in Catalina Island in the southern Channel Islands, California. On the left, the existing MPA is shown in solid red. On the right, the MPA is shown with a hatched fill and modified boundaries to reflect the proposal to change the boundary to a specified distance from shore rather than using lines of latitude and longitude.

A map of the existing MPA network around Santa Catalina Island in the southern Channel Islands, California, with Lover’s Cove SMCA, Casino Point no-take SMCA, and Blue Cavern Onshore no-take SMCA highlighted. — View the locations of MPAs affected by this petition.

Remove allowance for feeding fish in Lover's Cove SMCA and Casino Point SMCA (no-take)

Commission Decision: Deny

The fish feeding practice is associated with local tourism and predates the MLPA planning process. Because of this, as well as the potential for enhanced wildlife viewing and educational opportunities, an exemption for fish feeding was specifically authorized during the MPA planning process

Change color from purple to red on outreach maps for Casino Point SMCA (no-take) and Blue Cavern Onshore SMCA (no-take)

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