Participatory Marine Protected Area Design Using an Web-Based Open Source Tool Will McClintock Marine Science Institute University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Yacht Club June 22, 2009

Outline California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative Requirements Stakeholders, Science Advisory Team, Blue Ribbon Task Force MarineMap Decision Support Tool

California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative

Requirements

Stakeholders, Science Advisory Team, Blue Ribbon Task Force

MarineMap Decision Support Tool

California Marine Life Protection Act Signed into California state law in 1999 Improve the design and management of statewide network marine protected areas (MPAs) in state waters Focuses on marine ecosystems and habitats rather than single species – major shift in management Requires Use of “best readily available science” Involvement of stakeholders and other interested parties

Signed into California state law in 1999

Improve the design and management of statewide network marine protected areas (MPAs) in state waters

Focuses on marine ecosystems and habitats rather than single species – major shift in management

Requires

Use of “best readily available science”

Involvement of stakeholders and other interested parties

Six Goals of the MLPA To protect the natural diversity and abundance of marine life, and the structure, function and integrity of marine ecosystems To help sustain, conserve, and protect marine life populations , including those of economic value, and rebuild those that are depleted To improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems that are subject to minimal human disturbance , and to manage these uses in a manner consistent with protecting biodiversity To protect marine natural heritage , including protection of representative and unique marine life habitats in California waters for their intrinsic value To ensure that California ’ s MPAs have clearly defined objectives , effective management measures, and adequate enforcement, and are based on sound scientific guidelines To ensure that the state ’ s MPAs are designed and managed, to the extent possible, as a network

To protect the natural diversity and abundance of marine life, and the structure, function and integrity of marine ecosystems

To help sustain, conserve, and protect marine life populations , including those of economic value, and rebuild those that are depleted

To improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems that are subject to minimal human disturbance , and to manage these uses in a manner consistent with protecting biodiversity

To protect marine natural heritage , including protection of representative and unique marine life habitats in California waters for their intrinsic value

To ensure that California ’ s MPAs have clearly defined objectives , effective management measures, and adequate enforcement, and are based on sound scientific guidelines

To ensure that the state ’ s MPAs are designed and managed, to the extent possible, as a network

MLPA Initiative Public-Private Partnership Initiative Staff Fish & Game, Private Contractors MarineMap Consortium Stakeholders Fishers, Conservationists, Teachers, Scientists, Divers, Artists, Surfers, Tribal Representatives, Agency Representatives, Politicians, Residents Science Advisory Team Blue Ribbon Task Force

Public-Private Partnership

Initiative Staff

Fish & Game, Private Contractors

MarineMap Consortium

Stakeholders

Fishers, Conservationists, Teachers, Scientists, Divers, Artists, Surfers, Tribal Representatives, Agency Representatives, Politicians, Residents

Science Advisory Team

Blue Ribbon Task Force

MLPA Initiative Structure Stakeholders Science Advisory Team (SAT) Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) California Fish and Game Commission

MLPA Initiative Study Regions To be completed by 2011 Completed Phase I and II (29 new MPAs established for Central California in August, 2007) Now: Southern California Includes Channel Islands

To be completed by 2011

Completed Phase I and II (29 new MPAs established for Central California in August, 2007)

Now: Southern California

Includes Channel Islands

Geospatial Information Habitat Distribution of kelp, seagrass, substrate types, bathymetry. Biological Distribution of fish, birds, mammals, invertebrates, corals. Physical Sea surface temperatures, upwelling, salinity, currents, Cultural Distribution of ports, coastal access points, cities Socioeconomic Commercial and recreational fishing, recreational boating, diving Reference Existing MPAs, study area, graticules, nautical charts

Habitat

Distribution of kelp, seagrass, substrate types, bathymetry.

Biological

Distribution of fish, birds, mammals, invertebrates, corals.

Physical

Sea surface temperatures, upwelling, salinity, currents,

Cultural

Distribution of ports, coastal access points, cities

Socioeconomic

Commercial and recreational fishing, recreational boating, diving

Reference

Existing MPAs, study area, graticules, nautical charts

Typical Geospatial Analysis

Scientific Criteria MPA networks are evaluated on the basis of MLPA Goals and Objectives Adequate representation of habitats Habitats should be replicated within threshold distance Minimize socioeconomic impact (commercial / recreational fishing and other uses) Boundaries should fall on straight lines Should achieve maximum level of protection where possible Conservation Area (SMCA) vs. Marine Reserve (SMR) Levels of protection based on allowed uses (species and gear type)

MPA networks are evaluated on the basis of MLPA Goals and Objectives

Adequate representation of habitats

Habitats should be replicated within threshold distance

Minimize socioeconomic impact (commercial / recreational fishing and other uses)

Boundaries should fall on straight lines

Should achieve maximum level of protection where possible

Conservation Area (SMCA) vs. Marine Reserve (SMR)

Levels of protection based on allowed uses (species and gear type)

Participatory Process At stakeholder meetings Real time collaboration High pressure environment At home Low pressure environment

At stakeholder meetings

Real time collaboration

High pressure environment

At home

Low pressure environment

Current Proposals Online

How is MarineMap Working? Very positive feedback from stakeholders Helps build consensus Very heavy usage 5,000 MPA concepts have been drawn over 5 months Over 100 unique visitors every day Performance is good Fast with broadband or better Developers love it Open source technologies are flexible, fast, and well supported More work to do (always) Add a spatial commenting system discussion forum

Very positive feedback from stakeholders

Helps build consensus

Very heavy usage

5,000 MPA concepts have been drawn over 5 months

Over 100 unique visitors every day

Performance is good

Fast with broadband or better

Developers love it

Open source technologies are flexible, fast, and well supported

More work to do (always)

Add a spatial commenting system discussion forum

Summary MarineMap is: Easy to use for drawing, analyzing and sharing MPAs May be applied to other geographies Open Source Development is ongoing

MarineMap is:

Easy to use for drawing, analyzing and sharing MPAs

May be applied to other geographies

Open Source

Development is ongoing

Acknowledgments Resources Legacy Fund Foundation California Department of Fish and Game Paulo Serpa, Chad Miller MLPA Initiative Staff Evan Fox, Emily Saarman MarineMap Development Team Chad Burt (UCSB), Charles Steinback (Ecotrust), Chris Macdonald (UCSB), Colin Ebert (UCSB), Jared Kibele (UCSB), Matt Merrifield (TNC), Mike Mertens (Ecotrust), Scott Fletcher (Ecotrust), Alexei Peters (Farallon Geographics), Ken Vollmer (Ecotrust), Tim Welch (Ecotrust), Dennis Wuthrich (Farallon Geographics)

Resources Legacy Fund Foundation

California Department of Fish and Game

Paulo Serpa, Chad Miller

MLPA Initiative Staff

Evan Fox, Emily Saarman

MarineMap Development Team

Chad Burt (UCSB), Charles Steinback (Ecotrust), Chris Macdonald (UCSB), Colin Ebert (UCSB), Jared Kibele (UCSB), Matt Merrifield (TNC), Mike Mertens (Ecotrust), Scott Fletcher (Ecotrust), Alexei Peters (Farallon Geographics), Ken Vollmer (Ecotrust), Tim Welch (Ecotrust), Dennis Wuthrich (Farallon Geographics)