Definitions and Acronymns

Definitions | Commonly Used Acronyms and Abbreviated Terms

Definitions

The following terms are defined in Fish and Game Code (FGC) Section 2852:

Adaptive Management [2852(a) FGC]

"Adaptive management," with regard to marine protected areas, means a management policy that seeks to improve management of biological resources, particularly in areas of scientific uncertainty, by viewing program actions as tools for learning. Actions shall be designed so that, even if they fail, they will provide useful information for future actions, and monitoring and evaluation shall be emphasized so that the interaction of different elements within marine systems may be better understood.

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Marine Managed Area [36602(d) PRC]

"Marine Managed Area" (MMA) is a named, discrete geographic marine or estuarine area along the California coast designated by law or administrative action, and intended to protect, conserve, or otherwise manage a variety of resources and their uses. The resources and uses may include, but are not limited to, living marine resources and their habitats, scenic views, water quality, recreational values, and cultural or geological resources. General areas that are administratively established for recreational or commercial fishing restrictions, such as seasonal or geographic closures or size limits, are not included in this definition.

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Marine Protected Area [2852(c) FGC]

"Marine protected area" (MPA) means a named, discrete geographic marine or estuarine area seaward of the high tide line or the mouth of a coastal river, including any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora and fauna that has been designated by law, administrative action, or voter initiative to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. MPA classifications include marine life reserves (the equivalent of the state marine reserve classification), state marine parks, which allow recreational fishing and prohibit commercial extraction, and state marine conservation areas, which allow for specified commercial and recreational activities, including fishing for certain species but not others, fishing with certain practices but not others, and kelp harvesting, provided that these activities are consistent with the objectives of the area and the goals and guidelines of this chapter.

MPAs are primarily intended to protect or conserve marine life and habitat, and are therefore a subset of marine managed areas (MMAs), which are broader groups of named, discrete geographic areas along the coast that protect, conserve, or otherwise manage a variety of resources and uses, including living marine resources, cultural and historical resources, and recreational opportunities. Marine managed area classifications include state water quality protection area, state marine cultural preservation area, and state marine recreational management area.

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Marine Life Reserve [2852(d) FGC]

"Marine life reserve," for the purposes of this chapter, means a marine protected area in which all extractive activities, including the taking of marine species, and, at the discretion of the commission and within the authority of the commission, other activities that upset the natural ecological functions of the area, are prohibited. While, to the extent feasible, the area shall be open to the public for managed enjoyment and study, the area shall be maintained to the extent practicable in an undisturbed and unpolluted state.

Fish and Game Code Section 2860 (b) further clarifies permissible activities in "marine life reserves":

"Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the taking of a marine species in a marine life reserve is prohibited for any purpose, including recreational and commercial fishing, except that the commission may authorize the taking of a marine species for scientific purposes, consistent with the purposes of this chapter, under a scientific collecting permit issued by the department."

In January 2000 the Resources Agency released a report titled "Improving California's System of Marine Managed Areas". The culmination of an 18-month process involving 11 state agencies and substantial public input, the report contains recommendations for a simplified classification system for state marine managed areas (MMAs). Marine protected areas are a subset of MMAs; MPAs include state marine reserves, state marine parks, and state marine conservation areas. Other MMAs (state marine cultural preservation areas, state marine recreational management areas, and state marine water quality areas) are not a part of the MLPA Initiative.

The following six classifications for designating managed areas in the marine and estuarine environments were established in Public Resources Code, Section 36700. These became effective January 1, 2002 and replace the 18 classifications which were previously used to categorize state MMAs. Where the term "marine" is used, it refers to both marine and estuarine environments. The regulatory process to officially change the names of existing MPAs is expected to be completed in December 2004.

The following terms are defined in Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 36700 and 36710:

State Marine Reserve [36700(a) PRC]

A "state marine reserve," is a non-terrestrial marine or estuarine area that is designated so the managing agency may achieve one or more of the following:

1. protect or restore rare, threatened or endangered native plants, animals or habitats in marine areas;
   
   
2. protect or restore outstanding, representative or imperiled marine species, communities, habitats and ecosystems;
   
   
3. protect or restore diverse marine gene pools; or
   
   
4. contribute to the understanding and management of marine resources and ecosystems by providing the opportunity for scientific research in outstanding, representative or imperiled marine habitats or ecosystems.
   
   

Restrictions [36710(a) PRC]: it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource, except under a permit or specific authorization from the managing agency for research, restoration or monitoring purposes. While, to the extent feasible, the area shall be open to the public for managed enjoyment and study, the area shall be maintained to the extent practicable in an undisturbed and unpolluted state. Therefore, access and use (such as walking, swimming, boating and diving) may be restricted to protect marine resources.

Allowable uses [36710(a) PRC]: research, restoration and monitoring may be permitted by the managing agency. Educational activities and other forms of non-consumptive human use may be permitted by the designating entity or managing agency in a manner consistent with the protection of all marine resources.

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State Marine Park [36700(b) PRC]

A "state marine park," is a non-terrestrial marine or estuarine area that is designated so the managing agency may provide opportunities for spiritual, scientific, educational, and recreational opportunities, as well as one or more of the following:

1. protect or restore outstanding, representative or imperiled marine species, communities, habitats and ecosystems;
   
   
2. contribute to the understanding and management of marine resources and ecosystems by providing the opportunity for scientific research in outstanding, representative or imperiled marine habitats or ecosystems;
   
   
3. preserve cultural objects of historical, archaeological and scientific interest in marine areas; or
   
   
4. preserve outstanding or unique geological features.
   
   

Restrictions [36710(b) PRC]: it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living or nonliving marine resources for commercial exploitation purposes. Any human use that would compromise protection of the species of interest, natural community or habitat, or geological, cultural or recreational features, may be restricted by the designating entity or managing agency.

Allowable uses [36710(b) PRC]: all other uses are allowed, including scientific collection with a permit, research, monitoring and public recreation (including recreational harvest, unless otherwise restricted). Public use, enjoyment and education are encouraged, in a manner consistent with protecting resource values.

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State Marine Conservation Area [36700(c) PRC]

A "state marine conservation area," is a non-terrestrial marine or estuarine area that is designated so the managing agency may achieve one or more of the following:

1. protect or restore rare, threatened or endangered native plants, animals or habitats in marine areas;
   
   
2. protect or restore outstanding, representative or imperiled marine species, communities, habitats and ecosystems;
   
   
3. protect or restore diverse marine gene pools;
   
   
4. contribute to the understanding and management of marine resources and ecosystems by providing the opportunity for scientific research in outstanding, representative or imperiled marine habitats or ecosystems;
   
   
5. preserve outstanding or unique geological features; or
   
   
6. provide for sustainable living marine resource harvest.
   
   

Restrictions [36710(c) PRC]: it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or posses any specified living, geological or cultural marine resources for certain commercial, recreational, or a combination of commercial and recreational purposes. In general, any commercial and/or recreational uses that would compromise protection of the species of interest, natural community, habitat or geological features may be restricted by the designating entity or managing agency.

Allowable uses [36710(c) PRC]: research, education and recreational activities, and certain commercial and recreational harvest of marine resources may be permitted.

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State Marine Cultural Preservation Area [36700(d) PRC]

A "state marine cultural preservation area," is a non-terrestrial marine or estuarine area designated so the managing agency may preserve cultural objects or sites of historical, archaeological or scientific interest in marine areas.

Restrictions [36710(d) PRC]: it is unlawful to damage, take or possess any cultural marine resource. Complete integrity of the cultural resources shall be sought, and no structures or improvements which conflict with such integrity shall be permitted.

Allowable uses [36710(d) PRC]: no other uses are restricted.

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State Marine Recreational Management Area [36700(e) PRC]

A "state marine recreational management area," is a non-terrestrial marine or estuarine area designated so the managing agency may provide, limit or restrict recreational opportunities to meet other than purely local needs while preserving basic resource values for present and future generations.

Restrictions [36710(e) PRC]: prohibits any activities that would compromise the recreational values for which the area may be designated. Specified recreational opportunities may be protected, enhanced or restricted, while preserving basic resource values of the area.

Allowable uses [36710(e) PRC]: no other uses are restricted.

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State Water Quality Protection Area [36700(f) PRC]

A "state water quality protection area," is a non-terrestrial marine or estuarine area designated so the managing agency may protect marine species, biological communities, or unique or significant resources from an undesirable alteration in natural water quality.

Restrictions [36710(f) PRC]: prohibits or limits by special conditions point source waste and thermal discharges. Nonpoint source pollution is controlled to the extent practicable.

Allowable uses [36710(f) PRC]: no other uses are restricted.

Commonly Used Acronyms and Abbreviated Terms

Revised June 20, 2008