Santa Barbara MPA Meeting

Marine Protected Area petitions from Morro Bay to Santa Barbara being heard now.

Across the state, many petitions under consideration would expand MPA boundaries, change designations and create new closed zones that would restrict fishing activity in areas that are currently part of active commercial fisheries.

PCFFA has been engaged in this process and has submitted outlining concerns with both the substance of the proposals and the structure of the petition process.

PCFFA Position:

• No expansion of fishing closures.

• Without a clearly defined problem, additional or expanded MPAs are not a solution.

• Decisions that impact commercial fishing must be based on science, evidence, and demonstrated need, not assumptions, precaution, or optics.