New Modified Marine Protected Areas for 2012

and the are among a list of new and modified marine protected areas (MPAs) that will go into effect Jan. 1.

Earlier this month, the state Office of Administrative Law approved the regulatory package put forward by the California Fish and Game Commission that sets rules and boundaries for the south coast MPAs, which begin at Point Conception in Santa Barbara County and stretch down to the U.S./Mexico border.

Nearly a year ago the Commission adopted regulations to create a suite of MPAs in the south coast region. Developed pursuant the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), this network of 50 MPAs (including 13 pre-existing MPAs retained at the northern Channel Islands) and two special closures covers approximately 354 square miles of state waters and represents approximately 15 percent of the region.

On Jan. 1, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wardens will begin enforcing regulations in the MPAs. Wardens will take appropriate enforcement actions starting on that day which could include education, warning, citation or arrest depending on the violation.

In MPAs where commercial lobster fishing will be prohibited, commercial lobster traps may remain in the water until Jan. 6 if the door or doors to such traps are wired open, the trap is unbaited, the buoy remains at the surface of the ocean and no attempt is made to take spiny lobsters.

Aside from Swami’s and San Elijo Lagoon, other nearby MPAs to take effect Jan.1 include San Dieguito Lagoon and Batiquitos Lagoon. Final regulations and maps for all MPAs can be found online.