Draft South Coast MPA Monitoring PlanCalifornia Fish and Game Commission

Stockton, 29 June 2011

Applying the MPA monitoring framework

Meet MLPA requirements by:• Assessing ecosystem condition & trends• Evaluating MPA design & management decisions

A consultative process

• Reflect stakeholder priorities – 6 public workshops, > 200 participants

• Use best available science – 4 workshops, 56 scientists

• Focus on management – DFG technical & management review

• Review at every step – public comment in November 2010 and May 2011

To reflect the South Coast region

• Reflects South Coast ecosystems and human uses

• Identifies links to fisheries and water quality monitoring

• Is flexible and scalable• Adopts a partnerships

approach

Photo: NOAA

Photo: C. Fackler, NOAA

Photo: J. Hall, NOAA

Implementing monitoring

South Coast MPA Baseline Program1. Characterization of implementation conditions

2. Assessment of initial socioeconomic and ecological changes

Photo: M. Carver, NOAAPhoto: NOAA Photo: R. Fisher

Potential next steps

1. Consideration of draft plan

2. Recommend revisions3. Recommend inclusion

as an Appendix to the MLPA Master Plan

Draft South Coast MPA Monitoring PlanCalifornia Fish and Game Commission

Stockton, 29 June 2011

MPA Monitoring Framework

ECOSYSTEM FEATURES

‘How is the system doing?’ ‘How are MPAs affecting the system?’

ECOSYSTEM FEATURE CHECKUP

Vital Signs

ECOSYSTEM FEATURE ASSESSMENT

Key Attributes

& IndicatorsAND/O

R

ASSESSING ECOSYSTEM CONDITION & TRENDS

SHORT-TERM EVALUATION QUESTIONS

LONG-TERM EVALUATION QUESTIONS

EVALUATING MPA DESIGN & MANAGEMENT DECISIONS

AND

Water Quality

Monitoring

Climate ChangeMonitoring

Fisheries Monitoring

MPA Monitoring

Biological community structureNon-consumptive

uses

Ecological interactions

Habitats

Ecosystem assessment

Ecosystem processes

Select fished species

Consumptive uses

Fish mortality

Stock status

Industry demographics

Fisheries economics

Sentinel species Harmful algal

blooms

Discharge monitoring

Contaminants

Sentinel species

Species distributions

Physical oceanography

Sea level rise Ocean

acidification

Sediment monitoring

Microbiology

BiodiversityBycatch

Community structure

Refines reporting tools

Refines reporting tools

Implementing monitoring

MPA Baseline Programs:1. Assess implementation conditions2. Describe initial changes

North Central Coast Baseline Program:• 11 projects selected for funding• Includes academic & citizen-science

programs• Encompasses many ecosystems• Ecology & socioeconomics