November Update

NEWS & UPDATES

We’re excited to announce the public launch of OceanSpaces!
OceanSpaces is an online community that fosters new knowledge of ocean health. The website launched to the public last week with: From sharing data and results from California’s network of marine protected areas, to forming new collaborations, OceanSpaces is building community support around ocean science.

Working through a successful beta phase over the last few months gave us the opportunity to be responsive to user feedback, implement new features and upload complete Central Coast MPA Baseline Monitoring Program data. Membership has grown by more than 300% as hundreds of individuals, groups and organizations have joined OceanSpaces, created profile pages and begun sharing research updates, photos and other content.

It’s great to see OceanSpaces developing as a platform that brings together everyone with a stake in the health of California’s ocean – scientists, fishermen, resource managers, policymakers and citizens – offering new opportunities for individuals to communicate, create and share information. A shared body of scientific knowledge enables us to make informed decisions and becomes the basis for participation in ocean resource management and stewardship.

OceanSpaces will continue to grow as we add monitoring plans, data and results, and ocean health report cards. But as an online community, OceanSpaces users and members are the main drivers of the site. So, we invite you to take the lead by starting a new community group around the issues and priorities that are important to you, whether that’s water quality monitoring, ocean acidification, or education and outreach. You can also share your unique story or viewpoint by writing for the new Facing West blog.

We invite you to join OceanSpaces, share your ideas and discover the new ways to become part of the community! find out more

North Coast MPA monitoring planning
Our team returned to the North Coast twice over the past month to provide updates on the North Coast MPA monitoring planning process. We had the pleasure of presenting to both the Mendocino and Del Norte Boards of Supervisors and participating in small group meetings with community members. A video of the Mendocino meeting is archived on the Mendocino Access website – we were item 6b on the agenda, “MPA Monitoring Information Update.” A video of the Del Norte meeting is archived on the Del Norte County UStream website. We are pleased to announce that the Ocean Science Trust is building a team of North Coast Community Liaisons to work closely with us in the North Coast region. For more information about our activities in the North Coast region, please visit the Monitoring Enterprise website.

If you would like to receive our North Coast monthly newsletter please email Erin Meyer. find out more

State of the California Central Coast Symposium: Registration deadline extended!
We are pleased to announce that we have extended the registration deadline for the State of the Central Coast Symposium. We have received a tremendous response to the symposium and have increased the space available for this event. Registration will remain open until filled, but we encourage you to register now to ensure your attendance!

This symposium is a three-day public event offering participants an opportunity to learn about results from ecological and socioeconomic baseline MPA monitoring, share their own research findings, and discuss perspectives on MPA governance and enforcement with policy makers, resource managers, scientists, and stakeholders. We hope you’ll join us in Monterey from February 27 to March 1, 2013. Visit www.StateoftheCACoast.org for more information. find out more

In the Media
“Teaming Up to Take the Pulse of Marine Protected Areas” highlights how broad community involvement in MPA monitoring, from citizen scientists to fishermen, ensures we are taking advantage of all expertise while collecting scientifically rigorous monitoring data. By working together, we can meet the challenge of tracking the health of California’s ocean. This blog rounds out a series of articles by MPA Monitoring Enterprise Associate Scientist Dr. Madhavi Colton and Reef Check California Director Dr. Jan Freiwald. find out more  

Frequently Asked Questions

Are MPA monitoring results useful as California evaluates how to respond to a changing climate?
Yes! The first step in MPA monitoring is to understand starting conditions, and this work is underway now. From kelp forest size to fish and bird populations, and from numbers of MPA visitors to fishing revenues, the data from California's MPA baseline program will add up to the most detailed picture ever created of current ocean conditions: a "benchmark" that future changes can be measured against. This benchmark of ocean health is not just about the MPAs but lays the foundation for tracking the effects of climate on marine ecosystems.
 

What is the status of MPA monitoring in the North Central region?
In the North Central Coast, baseline data collection is complete. Project leads overseeing data collection from beaches, kelp forests, shallow and deep reefs among others, are now turning their attention to analyzing this data and providing results that will inform the first 5-year review of the regional MPA network. The South Coast is only one step behind – MPAs in this region were implemented in 2011 and data collection is underway in this region. Track the status of monitoring in each MLPA region by visiting the regional Baseline Program pages on OceanSpaces.