Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative

Fisheries Uses and Values Project

Background

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) is a California state law directing the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) to design and manage an improved network of marine protected areas off California's coast. To implement this law, the MLPA Initiative — a public-private partnership between the California Resources Agency, the CDFG and the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation — was formed.

Ecotrust was previously contracted by the MLPA Initiative to compile expert knowledge from fishermen to create a comprehensive dataset of 1) commercial fishing using patterns along the central coast of California and 2) commercial and recreational fishing use patterns along the north central coast of California (full report). This work constituted an innovative and vital contribution to the understanding of the extent and economic importance of fisheries in the region.

Ecotrust has been contracted again by the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative to compile expert knowledge from fishermen to create a comprehensive dataset of commercial and recreational fishing use patterns in the south coast region, from Point Conception (Santa Barbara) to U.S./Mexico border.

Goals and Methods

The goal of this project is to compile a comprehensive picture of the commercial and recreational fishing use patterns along California's south coast, using the expert knowledge of fishermen themselves.

To this end, we will use a purposive sampling design similar to the one implemented in the central and north central coast processes; data will again be collected through interviews with fishermen using a computer-based map interface — Oceanmap. Once the data has been collected and reviewed by an Ecotrust analyst, interviewees will be able to verify the accuracy of the information they provided using a secure, Internet-based application. After fishermen have reviewed and verified the information, composite datasets will be created for the fishing grounds of each fishery. The information will be analyzed and presented such that it can be incorporated into existing decision-support tools and MLPA database, affording managers and stakeholders the ability to design and assess the potential effects of MPA network alternatives.

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