As we review the recommendations from a Blue Ribbon Task Force for marine protected areas from Point Conception to the Mexican border, it seems clear that while the proposals offer significantly more protections for seabirds than currently exist, we had certainly hoped for more. The task force’s recommendation will likely go before the California Fish and Game Commission for final approval in December. In the past, the Commission has approved the recommendations of the task force with little alteration. (photo of Ashy Storm-Petrel by Glen Tepke)

Audubon California and local chapters are taking part in a statewide effort to establish protected marine habitats up and down the coast according to the Marine Life Protection Act because we see this as a rare opportunity to safeguard prime habitats for Pacific Coast seabirds.

The state has established a process that calls for various interests – conservation, fi shing, recreation, science – to work together to establish new protected areas. By 2012, approximately 20% of state waters will be fully or partly protected through this process. These marine protected areas benefit seabirds by replenishing food sources such as rockfi sh (essential for seabird chicks, and herring and herring roe (vital for loons, grebes, and cormorants, and waterfowl including scaups, Brant, Bufflehead, and Surf Scoters). These protected areas also reduce repeated disturbances from vessels that can cause breeding colonies to fail. Reduced fishing traffic in protected areas and special closures dramatically lowers disturbance at colonies. Once disturbance is reduced, birds can quickly colonize desirable locations.

The Marine Life Protection Act also provides Audubon California, local chapters, and our partners in conservation with another important tool to protect California Important Bird Areas. These sites have been identified by Audubon California as essential habitat for breeding, wintering, and migrating birds – and many of these sites are in coastal areas.

Although the final maps for the task force’s “Integrated Preferred Alternative” for the South Coast have not been posted, we do know some things about the proposed marine protected areas. Clearly, the advocacy from Audubon representatives resulted in specific considerations for seabirds. Also clear, however, is that the panel gave great consideration to fishing interests.

The total protected area is somewhat less than we’ve seen in other regions. For instance, in the recent north central coast region, about 20 percent of the total study area was designated for protection, with about 12 percent designated for no take. The south coast recommendation offers only about 16 percent of the total study area for protection, with about eight percent designated as no take.

Many of the marine protected areas in the south coast recommendation are right at nine square miles, which is the minimum size recommended by the Commission’s science staff. Some of the key protected areas in the San Diego area are significantly smaller than nine square miles.

All of the estuaries and lagoons that are critical for the California Least Tern, which were advocated by Audubon representatives, were included. This includes the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and the Batiquitos lagoons.

Four of the five pelagic foraging areas identified as critical for seabirds received protections meeting minimum science guidelines. These include Naples, Point Dume, Laguna Beach, and the South La Jolla reef area. Palos Verdes, unfortunately, was excluded.