The California Fish and Game Commission referred 20 petitions for changes to marine protected areas (MPAs) to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) following a 10-year review of the MPA Network. CDFW used a three-phase approach to evaluate the petitions, sorting them into two categories: Bin 1 for petitions ready for immediate review and Bin 2 for those requiring further data and resources. Five petitions were categorized into Bin 1, and the remaining 15 into Bin 2. CDFW’s draft recommendations for Bin 1 are available for review and will be considered by the Marine Resources Committee (MRC) at a November meeting, with potential final recommendations by the Fish and Game Commission in December. Public feedback is encouraged via the commission’s website.
