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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS The topic of "marine protected areas" (MPAs) has become quite common in the lexicon of marine conservation. However, the idea of protecting important marine habitats in order to foster restoration of biological communities and their respective productivity dates back centuries to the island communities of the Pacific Ocean. Its inception today as a potential tool in fisheries management comes partly from the observation of increased fish stocks in the North Sea when fishing grounds that had been closed due to the presence of mine fields were reopened after World War II. The World Conservation Union defines MPAs as: "Any area of the intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment." Under this broad definition, MPAs can take several management forms such as: marine reserves, marine parks, conservation areas etc. The difference between these various types of MPAs is the level of protection. For example, a marine reserve is one type of MPA in which any living or non-living marine resources are protected from removal or disturbance. A number of MPA related activities have occurred or are ongoing in California. Staff from the Southwest Region (SWR) and the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) have and continue to participate in several of these activities. More detailed information can be found at: www.pcouncil.org/reserves/reservesback.html
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