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Thanks to coastal development, thousands of acres of crucial habitat have vanished putting many species at risk of extinction. Before the 1900s, there were 50,000 acres of wetlands in Southern California. Today less than 11,000 acres remain and continued development threatens even these habitats. Research shows that one of the best ways to keep marine life populations healthy is by protecting an entire coastal habitat. Based on this concept, California launched a network of underwater parks in Southern California that stretches from Point Conception near Santa Barbara to the Mexico border.
Southern California's Marine Protection Areas (MPAs)
The State of California's new MPAs for our region went into effect on January 1, 2012. Find out more about underwater parks by watching this 13 minute video produced by the Southern California Aquarium Collaborative.
Conservation Tip: Create mini-habitats by planting native gardens. This helps wildlife thrive in dense urban areas. |
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