At Issue: Marine Protected Areas
Article by Greg Tims

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are "…any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein." They include the intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with the overlying water and all associated plant and animal life as well as historical and cultural features. Areas described as marine reserves, preserves, parks, sanctuaries, refuges, wilderness areas, protected areas and a variety of other areas fall under this definition. The reasons for establishing MPAs are many and varied and may include such purposes as biodiversity, research, education, conservation, protecting endangered species, recreation and others.

MPAs also vary by type. For example, a "No Take" MPA restricts or prohibits the removal of any and all marine life whereas a "No Intrusion" MPA area prohibits all human entry to protect an environmental or biological resource. MPAs can be designated for very specific purposes only, such as to protect an area for scientific research. Some are established specifically in support of fishery management efforts. MPAs in Puget Sound vary in their rules for recreational angling. For example, several allow fly fishing only, many prohibit all forms of fishing and the Colvos Passage MPA, created by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife in 2000, is closed to all fishing except trolling for salmon which is allowed.

Whatever an MPA is called, however big or small it may be and whatever the reason for its existence, the ultimate goal is to restrict human access and/or activity on some level.

On May 26, 2000, then President Clinton issued Executive Order #13158 expanding the efforts to create Marine Protected Areas. Its stated purpose is to "…protect the natural and cultural resources within the marine environment for the benefit of present and future generations by strengthening and expanding the Nation's system of marine protected areas." It directed federal agencies to work with state, local, territorial, tribal, non-governmental and other interested parties to develop a national system of MPAs. On June 4, 2001 President Bush decided to retain EO #13158 in effect.

The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is a national group representing recreational fishermen with chapters located in every coastal state from Maine through Texas. There are no chapters in CA, OR or WA. Many sport fishermen and guides felt establishing new marine protected areas could close as much as 20% of coastal waters to recreational fishermen. Many also felt MPAs were being created in an arbitrary manner not based on science. Claiming unfair exclusion by creating additional MPA/No Fish Zones, the CCA, together with the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) worked with congressional leaders to draft The Freedom To Fish Act (S.1314) The Bill, intended to protect recreational anglers' freedom to fish, was first introduced during the waning days of the 106th congressional session where it was referred to committee. On August 2, 2001, S.1314 was reintroduced in the 107th Congress. The House of Representative's version of the Bill (H.R. 3104), was introduced to the 107th Congress on October 11, 2001.

In late November 2001, the CCA stated that it is "…waging a legislative and legal battle to protect recreational anglers' freedom to fish."

In the state of Washington, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) each have regulatory authority over their own marine resources. Any of these can establish, through passage of laws in the legislature, their own Marine Protective Areas. Approximately 130 Marine Protected Areas are located throughout Puget Sound. In 2000, WDFW alone established 3 new MPAs.
         
Should you have an opinion on this issue and want to be heard, you can locate and contact your respective representatives through the following links:
         Washington State Legislature
         U.S. House of Representatives
         U.S. Senate