MPA Statewide Leadership Team Releases Work Plan, Key Tool in MPA Management Program

By Elyse Goin, Sea Grant Fellow

Proving that many heads are better than one, The Marine Protected Area Statewide Leadership Team (Leadership Team) released its 2021-2025 Work Plan and it is a must read for anyone interested in California’s network of marine protected areas.

Leadership Team Overview

The Marine Protect Area Statewide Leadership Team is an advisory team that collaborates on interests pertaining to California’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network, which was completed in 2012 through the Marine Life Protection Act. Established in 2014, the MPA Statewide consists of representatives from state and federal agencies, California Native American Tribes and non-governmental partners. The Leadership Team enables communication across our large state in which different regions have varying priorities, ecosystems, deep-time histories and immediate threats. 

Work Plan Contents

The Work Plan was implemented using guidance from The California Collaborative Approach: Marine Protected Areas Partnership Plan and the MLPA Master Plan to outline successful actions and outcomes in alignment with the MPA Management Program. Drawing from these Plans and stakeholder input, the Leadership Team outlined goals pertaining to four key areas of focus. Those areas include:

1. Outreach and Education,
2. Research and Monitoring,
3. Enforcement and Compliance and
4. Policy and Permitting.

As one reads the Work Plan, they will see overarching goals, strategic priorities, key actions and outcomes attached to each of the four focal areas. It is important to note that the contents of this Work Plan are specific to MPA management throughout fiscal years 21/22- 24/25 and stand alone to the contents of the Decadal Management Review forthcoming in February 2023. The Work Plan does not predict any recommendations or outcomes of the Decadal Management Review. 

Leadership Team Work Plan Goals

The Work Plan guides the Leadership Team’s collective efforts in MPA management and incorporates Tribal perspectives via Regional Tribal Representatives and community perspectives via the MPA Collaborative Network. In addition to achievements within the four main focal areas, this Work Plan will:

• Work towards the goals originally set forth in the MLPA,
• Sustain consistent funding for actions that support the goals of the MLPA,
• Promote successful partnerships among Tribal governments and representatives, state and federal agencies, and community organizations, and
• Showcase California’s model of adaptive MPA Network management as a tool to advance ocean conservation goals.

Pacific Grove MPA 2021. Credit: Sandra Fogg