MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
MPA Monitoring
Faced with increasing threats to ocean health, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established on the West Coast to protect and help rebuild depleted near shore marine ecosystems. Partnering with state agencies and academic institutions, MARE has been conducting baseline and long-term monitoring surveys of the deep subtidal portions of California’s MPAs since 2003.
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WHAT IS AN MPA?
MPAs or Marine Protected Areas within California are areas of special closure meant to conserve natural or cultural resources.
BLUE TECH FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION
MARE uses its remotely operated vehicle, the ROV Beagle to survey the deep subtidal portions of marine protected areas across the state.
COLLABORATIVE MPA RESEARCH
MARE and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have developed the data collection and video post-processing protocols that have been used throughout California’s MPA networks since 2004. Looking both inside and outside of MPAs, MARE has completed surveys at over 192 sites statewide since that time.