State of the California Central Coast
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State of the California Central Coast Results from Baseline Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas 2007–2012 This report was produced by the California Ocean Science Trust working in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and in collaboration with the Central Coast MPA Baseline Program Principal Investigators as well as many other partners and colleagues in the region. Over the past year, many scientists have conducted data analyses, provided results and reviewed sections of the report. We thank everyone for their expertise, dedication and generous time given to this project. Convening Editors Liz Whiteman, Erin Meyer, Tess Freidenburg, Holly Rindge, Ryan Meyer, Alena Pribyl, Madhavi Colton (California Ocean Science Trust, MPA Monitoring Enterprise), Tom Mason (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) Contributors Mark Carr (PISCO, University of California, Santa Cruz), Pete Raimondi (PISCO, University of California, Santa Cruz), Rick Starr (California Sea Grant Extension Program, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories), Dean Wendt (Cal Poly), Mary Yoklavich (NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center), Jan Freiwald (Reef Check California), Debbie Aseltine-Neilson (Department of Fish and Wildlife), Cheryl Chen (Ecotrust), Mike Prall (Department of Fish and Wildlife), Charles Steinback (Ecotrust), Francisco Chavez (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute), Rikk Kvitek (Seafloor Mapping Laboratory, California State University, Monterey Bay), Dan Malone (University of California, Santa Cruz), Emily Saarman (University of California, Santa Cruz), Rani Gaddam (University of California, Santa Cruz), Mary Young (University of California, Santa Cruz), Diana Watters (NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center), Bob Farrell (Department of Fish and Wildlife), Elizabeth Pope (Department of Fish and Wildlife) Support for this Report Provided by California Ocean Science Trust California Ocean Protection Council California Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Legacy Fund Foundation Citation State of the California Central Coast: Results from Baseline Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas 2007–2012. California Ocean Science Trust and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California, USA. February 2013. About This Report This report is intended to provide everyone with an interest in California’s Central Coast with scientific information about the ecological and socioeconomic conditions in the two years following Marine Protected Area (MPA) implementation as well as initial changes that occurred from 2007 to 2012. This report will be provided to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Fish and Game Commission to inform the recommended five-year management review of the regional MPA network. The report summarizes key findings from the 2007–08 Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Baseline Data Collection Projects, which were a collaborative effort among the California Coastal Conservancy, Ocean Protection Council, Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Sea Grant. It also includes ecological, biological, oceanographic and socioeconomic information and findings from key partners as well as background information from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Additional Resources Summary reports of the baseline program, which were created by Sea Grant, are available at www.csgc.ucsd.edu/BOOKSTORE/comp_publications.html. More information about the Central Coast MPAs, including boundaries, regulations, planning documents and management updates, is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa. Additional baseline monitoring information, including existing reports, comprehensive results and raw data, is available on OceanSpaces at www.oceanspaces.org. Photo Credits Larry Allen (CSUN): 27; Gerrick Bergsma (2010, Marine Photobank): 41, 42; Michael Carver (NOAA): Cover lower banner; Francisco Chavez (MBARI): 10; DFW: 26; Claire Fackler (NOAA): 4, 25 top; Iris Shreve Garrott: 31; Joe Hoyt (NOAA): 25; Island Effects (istock): 34-35; Jeffmeister (istock): 14; Kevin Joe (DFW): 16, 17; Chad King (NOAA): 1, 21, 25, 38, 39, 40, 40; Steve Lonhart (NOAA): 29, 37, 37, 40; Monique Messie (MBARI): 13; Craig Mueller (CSUMB SFML): 12; NOAA SWFSC: 39; Pete Naylor (2005, Marine Photobank): 6; Andi Pantz (istock): 18-19; Pgiam (istock): 2-3; Kebin Phillips (istock): 44-45; Alena Pribyl (OST): 30; Rick Rhay (istock): 8-9; Becky Stamski (NOAA): 15; Rick Starr (CA Sea Grant and MLML): 7, 23, 43; Scott Toews: cover,13; Michael Webster (CRA): 29. State of the California Central Coast: Results from Baseline Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas 2007–2012 Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................2 A Foundation for Our Future ............................... 2 Key Findings .......................................... 3 Introduction to the Central Coast ............................ 4 Introduction to MPA Monitoring ............................. 6 Central Coast Baseline Monitoring............................ 7 Setting the Scene..................................................8 Oceanographic Conditions................................ 10 Seafloor Habitats ...................................... 12 Socioeconomics . 14 MPA Enforcement and Compliance ......................... 16 MPA Education and Outreach ............................. 17 Establishing a Benchmark ..........................................18 Kelp and Shallow Rock Ecosystems.......................... 20 Mid-Depth and Deep Ecosystems........................... 24 Rocky Intertidal Ecosystems ............................... 28 Human Uses: Commercial and Recreational Fishing............... 31 Initial Changes ...................................................34 Initial Ecological Changes ................................ 36 Initial Socioeconomic Changes ............................. 41 Conclusion and Next Steps.........................................44 Introduction Summary & Key Findings A New Science-based Network of MPAs the MPAs are in the water, the monitoring effort begins. The first step is to establish a benchmark of ocean conditions and human With the passage of the Marine Life Protection Act in 1999, activities, against which future changes can be measured. California became the first in the nation to require a statewide network of marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect the integrity This report shares the results from these initial steps of monitoring of marine ecosystems, rebuild depleted marine life populations, in the Central Coast—providing a benchmark of ecological and including those of economic value, and improve ocean health. In socioeconomic conditions in the one to two years following 2007, 29 MPAs were implemented in the Central Coast region— MPA implementation and examining early changes that occurred the first of four regional MPA networks that collectively form the from 2007 to 2012. Along with proceedings from the State of statewide system. the California Central Coast Symposium, this information will be provided to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Citizens, scientists, managers and policy experts participated in and the California Fish and Game Commission to inform the a unique, collaborative and science-based effort to design and recommended five-year management review of the Central Coast implement these MPAs. The public process also set the stage for regional MPA network. a community of participants to stay informed and engaged in the implementation, scientific monitoring and adaptive management A Foundation for Science-Informed of the region’s MPAs. Decisions for Our Oceans The scientific data gathered and analyses conducted add up to the A Benchmark of Ecological and most detailed picture created of current ocean conditions along Socioeconomic Conditions California’s Central Coast. This is an important time stamp that will Planning is just the first chapter; scientific monitoring is essential inform our understanding of our changing world. From ongoing to evaluate the effects of MPAs and inform ocean management. MPA monitoring to fisheries and water quality management and California has embarked on a novel and cost-effective public- climate change adaptation, this scientific benchmark provides a private partnership that has developed a framework for MPA foundation for citizens, scientists and managers to keep a finger on monitoring designed to ‘take the pulse’ of ocean ecosystems the pulse of marine systems and make rigorous science-informed and to evaluate the effectiveness of MPA management. Once decisions for our oceans. 2 INTRODUCTION Central Coast MPAs are on Track Looking Forward Some species have demonstrated early changes Deeper understanding • In kelp forests, a range of economically important fishes, including cabezon, • California’s investment in seafloor mapping yielded the first lingcod and black rockfish increased in abundance in MPAs compared to comprehensive, high-resolution map of the state’s sea floor. Valuable similar locations outside MPAs. information detailing the full complexity and distribution of habitats, • On rocky shores, numbers and sizes of protected black abalone and including key fish nursery habitats, adds to the body of science used to harvested owl limpets have increased inside MPAs in this 5-year window. plan and cost-effectively manage the MPAs. This information will support future decisions on a range of ocean issues. Long-established MPA reveals the pace of change in marine life • The ecosystems-based approach to MPA monitoring sets the stage for an • Monitoring