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A regional approach was used in the MLPA Initiative process, in which California’s 1,100-mile coastline was divided into five study regions. In September of 2007, regulations for the first study region were implemented along the Central Coast (Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County). On August 5, 2009, the Fish and Game Commission voted to adopt its preferred alternative proposal, also known as the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA), for the MLPA North Central Coast study region (Alder Creek to Pigeon Point).

The MLPA proposal for the South Coast study region (Pt. Conception to the CA/Mexico border, including offshore islands) was approved by the Fish & Game Commisison in Decemeber 2010, and went into effect Summer 2011. The North Coast (Alder Creek north to the California border with Oregon) began its planning process, followed by the San Francisco Bay process (from the Golden Gate Bridge northeast to the Carquinez Bridge).

MPAs Approval for South Coast Region

On December 15, 2010, after hours of public comment and 2 years of meetings, the Fish and Game Commission voted to approve a system of Marine Protected Areas for the South Coast Region. The final array of MPAs is a compromise solution that Coastkeeper is proud to have participated in reaching.

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MLPA in the News