The California League of Conservation Voters were exuberant on Tuesday when the San Diego Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit against implementing marine protected areas along the southern California coast. The MPA’s will protect various sensitive marine ecosystems which were previously open for fishing.

Fishermen are devastated, as some the beaches they once fished with their grandfathers are now shut down. Their main disappointment is the lack of ability to stop such laws and wondering how far closures will go. Commercial fishing will also be banned in many zones and will be negatively affected . “Commercial lobster fishermen will lose 30% to 40% of their income with the 7-mile closure of Laguna’s coastline,” said Councilman Kelly Boyd.

For now, these small closures will not end fishing, while they do protect sensitive populations while they recover. The MPA regulations not only ban fishing, but also take of other species, like plants, animals, and other marine life such as shells. The laws go into effect on January 1, 2012.

Map of the MPAs:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/scmpas121510.pdf

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