Section 2857 Of Chapter 10.5. Marine Life Protection Act From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 10.5.
2857
. (a) On or before July 1, 2001, the department shall convene,
in each biogeographical region and to the extent practicable near
major working harbors, siting workshops, composed of interested
parties, to review the alternatives for MPA networks and to provide
advice on a preferred siting alternative. The department and team
shall develop a preferred siting alternative that incorporates
information and views provided by people who live in the area and
other interested parties, including economic information, to the
extent possible while maintaining consistency with the goals of
Section 2853 and guidelines in subdivision (c) of this section.
(b) The preferred alternative may include MPAs that will achieve
either or both of the following objectives:
(1) Protection of habitat by prohibiting potentially damaging
fishing practices or other activities that upset the natural
ecological functions of the area.
(2) Enhancement of a particular species or group of species, by
prohibiting or restricting fishing for that species or group within
the MPA boundary.
(c) The preferred siting alternative shall include MPA networks
with an improved marine life reserve component, and shall be designed
according to each of the following guidelines:
(1) Each MPA shall have identified goals and objectives.
Individual MPAs may serve varied primary purposes while collectively
achieving the overall goals and guidelines of this chapter.
(2) Marine life reserves in each bioregion shall encompass a
representative variety of marine habitat types and communities,
across a range of depths and environmental conditions.
(3) Similar types of marine habitats and communities shall be
replicated, to the extent possible, in more than one marine life
reserve in each biogeographical region.
(4) Marine life reserves shall be designed, to the extent
practicable, to ensure that activities that upset the natural
ecological functions of the area are avoided.
(5) The MPA network and individual MPAs shall be of adequate size,
number, type of protection, and location to ensure that each MPA
meets its objectives and that the network as a whole meets the goals
and guidelines of this chapter.
(d) The department and team, in developing the preferred siting
alternative, shall take into account the existence and location of
commercial kelp beds.
(e) The department and team may provide recommendations for
phasing in the new MPAs in the preferred siting alternative.