News from the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation:

A new publication – “Monitoring MPAs by SCUBA in waters off Central California: 2007/8 results of PISCO baseline monitoring surveys” is NOW available.

The booklet describes the patterns in state marine reserves based on two years of baseline data collected by PISCO at 8 sites. The project represents the most extensive ecological surveys to date of central coast kelp forests, and the results will provide a basis for long-term evaluations of MPA and reference sites.

This publication was made possible through funding and in-kind contributions from Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation, California Grant Sea, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Lead authors are Dr Mark Carr, Hugo Selbie, Dan Malone with PISCO, and Dr. Steve Lonhart with MBNMS.

Hard copies are available via an email request and an electronic version can be downloaded from the SIMoN website:

http://www.sanctuarysimon.org/monterey/sections/simon/simon_downloads.php

http://www.sanctuarysimon.org/regional_docs/monitoring_projects/100329_MPAsBooklet.pdf

We will also be posting this publication to the MBSF website. As always check the website for updates, as new products are being uploaded for your use.

Thank you – The MBSF Team

Dear Blogger,

We’re approaching the climax to the epic tale of Marine Life Protection Act <http://www.caloceans.org/mlpa/> implementation for the north central coast region (from San Mateo to Mendocino Counties), which the Fish and Game Commission will rule on Wednesday, August 5th.

As tension mounts, ocean advocates are making a last herculean effort to push a smart, science-supported plan over the finish line.

To that end some of California’s leading ocean experts, including “her deepness” Sylvia Earle <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Earle>  just unveiled a consensus statement on the effectiveness of and pressing need for underwater parks (or “marine reserves”) in California’s coastal waters, which is in agreement with the findings of a recent Science study on the health of global fisheries http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2009-07-30-overfishing_N.htm .

At the State Capitol July 30, naturalist Bob Breen, who managed Fitzgerald Marine Reserve <http://www.fitzgeraldreserve.org/> fro 35 years said:

“We now know enough to dramatically improve the health of our ocean. Marine reserves are a key part of the solution, and California needs a strong network to ensure the sustainability, and productivity, of marine resources and the industries that rely on them.”

The number of fishermen and boats, and the average commercial catch off California’s north central coast have dropped by two thirds <http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/nccprofile.asp>  over the past 14 years. A recent study <http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118564223/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0>  found that Pacific coast fish are half as large as they were 20 years ago.

This is California’s chance to be a leader in ocean protection, and continue in the state’s tradition of taking the long view on important matters of public health and quality of life.

The compromise plan before the Commission next week is known as the IPA, or Integrated Preferred Alternative <http://www.caloceans.org/north-central/>  (not India Pale Ale).  It’s supported by fishermen, conservationists, divers, surfers, and scientists; and would protect key sites like the Farallon Islands and Point Reyes while leaving nearly 90% of the coast open for fishing.

For a quick primer on this issue, check out our groovy new videos at www.youtube.com/oceancalifornia.

Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion coming next Wednesday, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. We’ll be Tweeting live from the meeting <https://twitter.com/ThePacificOcean> as well if you’d like up-to-the-minute info.

Thanks!
Nicole

——————–
Nicole Lampe
Program Director
Resource Media
325 Pacific Ave., 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
tlf:  415-397-5000 x 302
cell: 415-341-4521
nicole@resource-media.org