California's underwater marine parks are set to expand on May 1st to include the Point Reyes Headlands, Bodega Head, the Farallon Islands and Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. The designations are part of a process to implement the
Marine Life Protection Act that requires the state to develop a system of marine protected areas the length of the 1,100 mile coastline. California is the first seacoast state to implement such a comprehensive plan to manage marine resources. The
north central coast network creates 21 marine protected areas, 3 marine management areas and six special closures. The designations put 1
1% of state waters into fully protected marine reserves. Planning for the far north and south coasts is underway and expected to be implemented by 2011. New research confirms that marine reserves play an important role in replacing marine life harvested in areas outside of the reserves.
[photo: South Farallon, NOAA]
