CDFW Releases Evaluation of MPA Petitions; OPC to Provide Policy Input in Coming Weeks

In 2023, the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) received several petitions that proposed changes to the state’s successful and globally-renowned Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network, in response to a key recommendation in the first Decadal Management Review of the Network: Apply what is learned from the first Decadal Management Review to support proposed changes to the MPA Network and Management Program (Recommendation #4).

Twenty public petitions were received in December 2023 and referred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for evaluation. Five petitions were evaluated and approved by the FGC in 2025.

Today, CDFW released its evaluations of 10 of the remaining 15 petitions. The evaluations can be found on CDFW’s MPA petition StoryMap website. CDFW plans to complete evaluations for the last five petitions, which are all tribally-led, upon receiving guidance from the FGC’s Tribal Committee at its April 14 meeting.

In our role as MPA policy lead, OPC will provide specific input on petitions through specific policy priorities, as articulated in a public letter transmitted to FGC on March 20. OPC’s input will complement the rigorous assessment conducted by CDFW and will focus on opportunities to strengthen the performance and durability of the MPA network, including opportunities to build climate resilience and support tribal stewardship and co-management. OPC’s input and recommendations will be released in advance of FGC’s upcoming public meetings on petitions in April and May.

Next steps: The five tribally-led petitions will be discussed at FGC’s Tribal Committee meeting on April 14, with initial discussion on all petitions by the full Commission at three regional public Commission meetings scheduled on April 21 in San Mateo, April 5 – 6 in the Santa Barbara Area, and May 19 in the Oceanside/Northern San Diego County area.  Meeting details can be found on FGC’s website.