Marine Protected Areas
Millions of acres of our nation's natural heritage are protected through a system of national parks, national forests, and wilderness areas. Marine protected areas (MPAs) protect whole ocean ecosystems, allowing wildlife and habitats to return toward a more natural and balanced state.
MPAs are found throughout the world. Within the United States, national marine sanctuaries (federal MPAs) help protect some of our nation's healthiest and most scenic ocean areas. They support research, education, preserve natural and cultural resources, and serve as natural classrooms and recreational areas.
MPAs are special places where human activities are carefully managed. They vary in size and allow different types of use depending upon their conservation goals. Some are designed to protect large ocean ecosystems. Others may safeguard a particular fishery, rare species, critical habitat for marine life, or underwater historical sites. MPAs differ in what they allow and prohibit inside their boundaries. Some may be "no take" areas that prohibit all fishing, drilling, mining, and other extractive activities. Others may allow some commercial and recreational fishing. Most MPAs allow research, education, and responsible recreation through activities like kayaking, surfing, or diving.
Sanctuary Ecologically Significant Areas
As part of its ecosystem based management approach, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary worked with many partners to establish sanctuary ecologically significant areas (SESA). These 13 special areas encompass remarkable, representative, and/or sensitive marine habitats, communities, and ecological processes. They are focal areas for facilitating research to better understand natural and human-caused variation. SESA are not part of the sanctuary regulatory regime, yet may be used as a resource management tool.
SESA are primarily located in offshore federal waters, including portions of the sanctuary to the west of state waters, and the Davidson Seamount Management Zone. Available data for each SESA has been summarized in quick look reports, which include site descriptions, resource management issues, living marine resources, historic and ongoing research and monitoring, science needs, maps, imagery, and selected publications.
Deep-Sea Coral Research and Restoration within SESA
In 2023, NOAA’s Greater Farallones and Monterey Bay national marine sanctuaries published a Deep-Sea Coral Research and Restoration Scoping Document and are working in coordination with NOAA Fisheries and Pacific Fishery Management Council staff to establish protections in areas that are suitable for deep-sea coral research and restoration. On September 11, 2023 the Pacific Fishery Management Council agreed to move three areas within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary SESA (Año Nuevo, Ascension Canyon, and Sur Ridge) forward for consideration of potential management measures that would provide protections to deep-sea coral research and restoration activities from intentional impacts to the seafloor from bottom-contact fishing gear. Deep-sea corals provide refuge and food for many other species of invertebrates and fishes that are threatened by a number of issues, including crushing from the sinking of large vessels, fishing gear impacts, and ocean acidification.
Additional Deep-Sea Coral Information:
Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Areas
Approximately 148,000 square miles of seafloor in U.S waters along Washington, Oregon, and California are protected from bottom trawling under Amendment 28 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, implemented by NOAA Fisheries on January 1, 2020. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary participated in the decade-long review of Amendment 28 for essential fish habitat (EFH) conservation areas within sanctuary waters, which provide critical seafloor, coral, sponge, and fish assemblage data, vital to the decision to protect sensitive habitats from bottom trawling. In 2013, staff led a local stakeholder process to develop a collaborative proposal with local trawl fishermen and conservation organizations, which was submitted to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The sanctuary’s proposal was accepted by the council in 2018 and integrated into the coastwide EFH conservation area modifications. The collaborative approach served as a model and a similar process was implemented along the entire West Coast.
The 2020 NOAA Fisheries final rule on Amendment 28 includes groundfish EFH no-trawl designations that protect approximately 237 square miles of fragile biogenic habitat. Fourteen new closures were added to EFH conservation areas in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, including three in the northern region that have known higher densities of corals, sponges, sea pens, and whips in soft, mixed hard, rocky, and high relief habitats. In addition, approximately 99 square miles in five EFH conservation areas were opened to historically productive fishing grounds. Amendment 28 also closes U.S waters deeper than 3,500 meters (2.2 miles) to fishing with bottom contact fishing gear off the coast of California to protect deep-water habitats, including deep-sea corals.
California Marine Protected Areas
California is the first state in the nation to create a statewide network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in state waters. In 1999, the Marine Life Protection Act was enacted, directing the state to design and manage a network of marine protected areas. Based on sound science, public involvement, and careful planning, the MPA network is designed to protect a variety of critical ocean habitats. As refuges for marine life, MPAs will complement other state conservation efforts by allowing marine ecosystems to recover and thrive. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency responsible for implementing and managing the statewide MPA network. The California coast has been divided into five planning regions. Each region undertook a collaborative public process to designate MPAs in their area. People knowledgeable about ocean uses and resources such as fishermen, conservationists, and scientists, participated in the design process for each region.
Central Coast MPAs
The central coast was the first region to complete a network in 2007 when 29 MPAs were designated along its shores. The central coast network covers 204 square miles (about 18%) of state waters from Pigeon Point to Point Conception, including 85 square miles (about 7.5%) of fully protected marine reserves.
How is the Sanctuary Involved?
Most of the central coast and north central coast networks of state-designated MPAs reside within the boundaries of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Along with partners, sanctuary staff support a variety of monitoring and data collection projects in state-designated MPAs. These range from monitoring key habitats such as kelp forests, rocky shores, and soft-bottom communities, as well as individual populations of fishes and invertebrates (such as black abalone). Staff also collect important geologic and oceanographic data and study the impacts of lost fishing gear in MPAs.
A natural resource law enforcement group organized by Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and composed of representatives of all federal, state, and local government authorities shares information and plans joint patrols focused on enforcement of MPA regulations. In addition to monitoring activities from the R/V Fulmar, staff also use automatic identification systems to track and observe vessel activity [redirect to 6.6 with an anchor link to the vessel traffic section] and ensure compliance with MPA regulations.
California Coastal National Monuments
California Coastal National Monuments, managed by the U.S. Department of Interior, provides unique coastal habitat for marine-dependent wildlife and vegetation on more than 20,000 rocks, islands, exposed reefs and pinnacles along the California coastline, as well as 7,924 acres of public land in six onshore units: Trinidad Head, Waluplh-Lighthouse Ranch, Lost Coast Headlands, Point Arena-Stornetta, Cotoni-Coast Dairies, and Piedras Blancas. The scenic beauty and important wildlife habitat within the monument are protected by the Bureau of Land Management as national conservation lands.