California adds 15,000 acres to marine protected areas after a decade

California strengthened Pyramid Point protections to aid declining fish populations while preserving tribal harvesting rights. Along California’s vast coastline, some of the ocean’s most valuable real estate now has a new layer of protection. From kelp forests off Malibu to biologically rich waters near Santa Barbara and Point Sal, the state has expanded its marine conservation network for the first time in more than a decade, adding roughly 15,000 acres of safeguarded coastal waters.The move comes at a consequential moment for California’s coastline, as debates over fishing access, tribal stewardship, climate change and potential offshore oil development intensify, states the latest report by Santa Monica Daily Press (SMDP).A new chapter for marine protectionAccording to the SMDP, the California Fish and Game Commission approved the latest changes following a three-year process involving tribes, fishermen, scientists, local governments and members of the public. The additions bring approximately 22.2% of California’s coastal waters under conservation, moving the state closer to its target of protecting 30% of its waters by 2030.One of the most significant changes expands the Point...