New Marine Protected Areas Get Big Funding

Set to go into effect on 10/1, the new system of Southern California Marine Protected Areas got a major shot in the arm this week as the Ocean Protection Council announced $4 million worth of earmarked funding to help monitor the impacts of the controversial fishing regulations. Throughout the lengthy stakeholder process that helped develop the array of ocean conservation and preservation zones, much ado was made about the necessity to have baseline studies done on the areas as the program rolls out, and then monitor them in the years to come to assess the effectiveness of the pro-sea life play.