Marine Protected Areas

History of Orange County Marine Protected Areas

“Social security” for the residents of most Orange County tidepools was assured through the establishment of seven state marine life refuges in the years 1968 – 1971. Within this almost contiguous designated area from Doheny to Newport Beach, removal or destruction of marine life is punishable by law. Even empty shells and rocks are protected in their natural resting places, as well as non-commercial species of mussels, clams, snails, sea stars, urchins, crabs and octopuses.

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The official preservation of intertidal creatures came in an era of sudden ecological awareness – a statement of concern after the shoreline had already been depleted for decades by overzealous hunters, divers, collectors and scavengers. California in the 1960s was caught in an epoch of rapid evolution of ocean science and engineering; there was a sudden realization that every foot of coastline offered an invaluable toehold to the vast resources of the ocean. The periodic State Development Plan written at the time called for an unprecedented inventory of coastal lands and detailed mapping of the shoreline. After the initial mapping phase, the first step toward management would be to protect the life still existing between the tides.

Orange County tidepools had long drawn teachers, students and scientists from all over the United States to study and research the rich ecosystem. The legislative bill to establish the first of the state marine life refuges in Orange County, at South Laguna, Laguna Beach, and Corona Del Mar, was successfully introduced and passed by Assemblyman Robert Badham in 1968. The assemblyman followed this victory with an additional bill in 1969 that provided two more refuges, Dana Point and Doheny. Two more refuges were added in 1971, Niguel and Irvine Coast, extending the protected areas of Orange County to include most of the counties coast.

The species that are protected within Orange County reserves has been updated on a periodic basis by the Department of Fish and Game. Abalone species saw a complete collapse from the effects of over harvesting and the withering foot disease; all species were added to “no take” status. In 1994 new areas were added and the Refuge laws were updated, the maximum penalty for violation was increased and the current rules were more clearly defined. In 2000 under the Marine Managed Area Improvement Act all MPAs in California were evaluated and placed into the three currently recognized State MPA designations; Marine Reserves, Marine Parks and Marine Conservation Areas.

tidepool3 Nine years ago the Orange County Marine Protected Area Committee was formed as a sub-committee of the Orange County Coastal Coalition to aid the Department of Fish and Game in the management of our local MPAs. The OCMPAC is a collaboration of city and county officials, institutional representatives, academic faculty and nonprofit organizational members. Our goal is to provide comprehensive management of the Orange County Marine Protected Areas through communication and cooperation of the various agencies, and setting the model for localized implementation of marine conservation efforts. Current members include City of Newport Beach, City of Laguna Beach, California State Parks, Orange County Parks, California State University Fullerton, MBC Applied Sciences, Laguna Ocean Foundation and the Ocean Institute. To find out more visit: www.ocmarineprotection.org.
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