Politics & Government

Tijuana River Mouth One of 36 New Marine Protected Areas

The California Fish and Game Commission vote nearly doubles the area under the guardianship of the Marine Life Protection Act.

The California Fish and Game Commission voted 3-2 Wednesday to approve the creation of 36 new marine protected areas (MPA) along the southern California coast, from Santa Barbara to Imperial Beach.

This includes waters near the Tijuana River mouth and Border Field State Park.

New MPAs are being added as part of reforms required by the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) to more effectively preserve marine life and fisheries. The move will double the amount of land or sea currently under MLPA protection, said Fish and Game officials.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Three of five California regions have gone through the same process. Similar plans are expected to conclude in northern California by the end of 2011 then finish in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2012.

The commission's decision signals the end of a process to study, debate and rally support for what should be protected and where.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We've been working toward this historic vote for more than four years," said Meagan Wylie, San Diego Coastkeeper's marine conservation manager. "It's like a savings account for our ocean—set a little aside so it can recuperate and thrive and we will all—fisherman, residents, recreational users, marine life—benefit from the interest."

Fishing or taking any living marine resources is prohibited in marine protected areas but restrictions vary from place to place. In Imperial Beach, the MPA allows commercial fishing with a round haul net and taking pelagic fish with a hand-held dip net, except for market squid.

Restrictions in other parts of the county may impact San Diego's fishing industry up to 15 percent, according to an analysis by the company Ecotrust.

Waters and watersheds near Point Loma, La Jolla and San Elijo and Batiquitos lagoons will also become marine protected areas.

More than 12,000 written comments were sent to the state agency and last October more than 1,000 people from across Southern California came to voice their opinions before Wednesday's vote.

Marine protected areas were decided upon by the commission and recommended by a science advisory team, Blue Ribbon Task Force and 64 different environmentalists, scientists and fishing organizations. 


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