MPA Watch, A Statewide Program That Collects Data on Human Uses of Marine Resources, Launches New Website, Social Media Sites

Top Quote MPA Watch, a network of programs that collect human-use data in marine protected areas in order to keep our oceans clean and healthy, has launched a new, revamped website http://mpawatch.org and social media pages. End Quote
  • (1888PressRelease) February 22, 2019 - San Diego, CA - MPA Watch, a network of programs that collect human-use data in marine protected areas in order to keep our oceans clean and healthy, has launched a new, revamped website http://mpawatch.org and social media pages.

    Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are marine or estuarine waters set aside primarily to protect or conserve marine life and its associated habitat. Just as parks on land protect special lands and wildlife from overdevelopment and poaching, these ocean parks preserve California's stunning marine ecosystems for future generations to observe and enjoy.

    MPA Watch is a community science program that trains volunteers to observe and collect data on human uses of coastal and marine resources both inside and outside of marine protected areas (MPAs). Volunteers use standardized methods to collect data.

    The data collected are used to help the management, enforcement, and science of California's marine protected areas, and allows MPA Watch’s network of programs and organizations to track how the public uses coastal areas.

    By involving local communities in this collection of data, MPA Watch programs inspire and empower stewardship, and educate the public about California’s ocean ecosystems.

    People interested in learning more are encouraged to follow MPA Watch on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mpawatch/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/MPAWatch

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpawatchorg/

    MPA Watch volunteers observe California's beaches and bluffs inside and outside MPAs, recording all offshore and onshore coastal activities from recreational activities such as swimming and surfing to commercial activities such as fishing. Volunteers are trained to recognize different types of activities, using binoculars to view activities offshore, and to record their observations on data sheets.

    Volunteers record consumptive activities such as commercial fishing, shore fishing, and clamming, and non-consumptive activities such as swimming, SCUBA diving, and tide pooling.

    All data collected by volunteers undergo rigorous quality assurance and quality control protocols by coordinating organizations before being accepted and shared with users such as state coastal managers and environmental researchers.

    Data from community science projects like MPA Watch complements data collected by other monitoring groups, resource managers, scientists and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Ecological, economic, and social factors are just a few types of data that will be collected to provide a comprehensive picture on how the MPAs are functioning. This data will also help us to understand where there may be a need for enhanced education and outreach, signage, and law enforcement. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is the agency charged with management and enforcement of MPA regulations.

    You can help support MPAs by joining a MPA Watch program as a volunteer. Local volunteers have submitted more than 22,000 surveys to date. The groups of volunteer organizations below monitors the use of coastal and ocean MPAs, providing a valuable look at how people are using these conservation areas.

    Heal the Bay - Los Angeles County

    Grace Young, gyoung ( @ ) healthebay dot org

    Los Angeles Waterkeeper - Los Angeles County
    Michael Quill, mquill ( @ ) lawaterkeeper dot org

    Orange County Coastkeeper - Orange County
    Ray Hiemstra, ray ( @ ) coastkeeper dot org

    West Marin Environmental Action Committee - Marin County
    Morgan Patton, morgan ( @ ) eacmarin dot org

    California Academy of Sciences

    Rebecca Johnson, rjohnson@calacademy.org

    Santa Barbara Channelkeeper - Santa Barbara County
    Penny Owens, penny@sbck.org

    WILDCOAST - San Diego County
    Angela Kemsley, angela@wildcoast.org

    Greater Farallones Association - San Francisco County
    Kirsten Lindquist, klindquist@farallones.org

    Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History - Monterey County

    Erika Delemarre, delemarre@pgmuseum.org

    Eagle Eyes of False Klamath Cove - Del Norte County

    Ruthie Maloney, ruthiemaloney@gmail.com

    John Corbett, williammlpa@gmail.com

    Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation, Del Norte County

    Rosa Laucci, rosa.laucci@tolowa.com

    Outdoor Schools

    Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE)

    Kat Montgomery, kat@aeoe.org

    For more information on volunteering for MPA Watch, go to mpawatch.org or email angela@wildcoast.org. To access various resources, go the MPA Watch Resources page at http://www.mpawatch.org/site/startyourown.

    Contact:
    Marci Bracco Cain
    Chatterbox PR
    Salinas, CA 93901
    (831) 747-7455
    http://www.mpawatch.org

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