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Home My WebLink AboutSS3 - Marine Education OfficeCS 3 -- �/,23 `,-1 Marine Education Office c �k x The Area Bordered by Poppy Street to the North and Cameo Shores sc the South !i A "Marine Protected Area" (MPA) designated to protect all Irving and non - living marine resources from commercial and recreational exploitation, and may also limit non - consumptive uses thatwould compromise such protection. Currently the State of California has three MPA designations. Marine Reserve (restriction of recreational and commercial uses) Marine Park (restriction of commercial uses and limited recreational uses) Marine Conservation Area (limited commercial/ recreational uses) Little Corona aka Robert E. Badham is designated a State Marine Conservation Area FI Why develop and maintain Marirr Protected Areas? Habitat protection Maintaining of biological diversity Provide natural areas for research Preserve locations for educational and recreational activities Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Area of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) Robert E. Badham State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and ASBS. Marine Protected A. [AP(e) PGCI 'Mari oul.ctedarea'(MPA)meanza named, diurctei phis ma'm or estuarine arcaseaward of the hy(Is tide line orN <mouthofa c=lriver.includinga ➢yareaofs rertWal or wbtidal retrain. mgeNerwiN its orerlys gwartr and asscciated flonand fauna that has bee desigmtedbylaw. adminiuntive action, or voter initiame to protect or marine IJ <anit habiut. MPA cl.aufcatmns include marine life re serves (the Tt ivalea[ of the state marine rtssrved sa fim[ioo), sate marine pa ks, whicM1 allow reoeational fishinn88 and Dmhibit mmmercial eatramon.and sate marina mmemtionarcas, whahallow for specified commercial and recreational attirities. indudin8 fishing for cemin =but not others, fishingwN cerum mac[ices but not uNets.and kelp lu;J s-- z provided Nat these activiuesare comistem! with the objeolives of he area and the goals and guidelines of thh chapter. sate Marine Comervation Area (yloo(c) PRQ A "sate marine conservationarca; isa noo-mrresuial marimor estmriw area Nat is decignared so the managing agency may achieve one or more of [he following: . protemorresrore rare,andin&repreendangeormerile marinVerieshabiuuNmadnintavi; 3. prorctt or «uore ouuravding, represenu[iveor imperiled marine specie +, communities, M1abiuuand pr ted d. prorem or restore diverse marine gene pools: o. contribute totheundersorchin and management of n therew,,efil nd eco: balutby providing Ne pp preserve forseiending or uniginovtsucal features; or tivearimperiled marine habiu tcoremzycrtms: y ovideoutManinableiving grin resourceuregor 6. provide for sustainable living marine resource harvest. Res[rimiona �ypo(e7 PRC4: it is unlawhsl m injure, damage take or possnany specified living, geological or rulmral marine resources for certain commercial, recreationah or a combination of comm<rcbl and recreational purposes. In g�n <ral,any commercial a ndlor recreational uses tha[would comp i protettion of the stories of imerest. mnl Community, habitat or geological(eaurea may be restrined by the designating entity ormanaging agency Mlowable uses jyytoO PRQ re+earch, education and recreational activiue+, and cerium commercial and recce rforul harvest of marine resources may be permuted. Ecological Concerns Facing Marine Protected Areas Visitor foot traffic Urban runoff Sewage and Industrial discharge Unlawful harvesting Human manipulation of intertidal rocks and organisms Oil or other toxic spills Orange County Marine Protectea Areas Council Alap ( OCMPAC) is a collaboration of city and county officials, institutional representatives, environmental consultants, academic faculty and nonprofit organization members. Our goal is to set the model for localized implementation of rocky intertidal marine conservation efforts through regional communication and cooperation. OCMPAC accomplishments have included county wide signage, enforcement training, teacher workshops, research, management and education programs. 4 Our Focus The City of Newport Beach along with the other Orange County Marine Protected Area managers have developed a set of rules to assist people with enjoying this fragile habitat. This information is handed out to program participants as well as the tidepooling public. I'he Office Located at Big Corona Staffed with a Marine Protection and Education Supervisor and roughly to part - time Marine Educators. We utilize Robert E. Badham SMCA, the tidepools at Big Corona, Pirate's Cove and the jetty in our programs. FOLLOW GOOD TIDEPOOLER RULES! Help Keep our Tidepool Animals Safer 1. Never remove animals, shells rocks or plants from the tidepools. 2. Never pick up animals, observe them where they are. 3. Walk gently, taking care not to step on plants or animals. 4. Never turn over rocks. aY... IL In the Past... The past primary focus was to protect Robert E. Badham SMCA or what most call Little Corona. Education programs focused on a tour of Little Corona. • Monitoring included Rangers at Little Corona and explaining tidepooler rules and Fish and Game regulations. Marine Education This Year There are over q,000 students attending our Tidepool Exploration Program, including K -8 programs and Scout groups. Participation in io environmental fairs where we contacted over 7,000 school age children. Facilitation and coordination of 2-3 beach clean -ups per month at Big Command the Robert E. Badham SMCA with over t,000 participants annually. Coordination of the California Coastal Clean-up day includingg,, Big Corona, Little Corona and the Newport Pier with over qoo volunteers on that day alone. Staff provides interpretation and monitoring of Robert E. Badham during low -tides and heavy visitation. We facilitated 6o University and Research groups this year. -he Impacts Staff has developed the Mission Statement: "Foster stewardship ofrocky intertidal ecosystems through education, outreach and service." We work to share our passion in a positive and informative manner. We strive fora greater awareness of the marine environmentand how we all impact it. We reach over 15,000 people each year formallywith this message and make approximately too,000 public contacts. • Provide information and education on the marine environment and how we all impact it. Beach clean ups. Monitorand guide human behavior. We collaborate with and involve local stakeholders in our programs. We extend our message to user groups outside of our county. Moving Forward This year t dumgesto Education came..... interested volunteers. Continued expansion and improvement of the current program. A Traveling Tidepool program was success . this month and will 1 implemented in the t A possible NBPLTidm *% 410 M. rt� o. Robert E. Badham Marine Conservation Area's status grants certain legal protections that ordinary coastal areas do not have. Primary enforcement relies on the State of California Department of Fish and Game. Enforcement of regulations are not adequately applied due to staffing levels and enforcement priorities. Our program emphasizes education. We strive to teach beach goers about what the area is, why it is important and how we can reserve it for future generations. But, we can do more.... Currently the cities of Laguna Beach and Dana Point have municipal ordinances to ensure local authority for MPA management. Back Bay Science Center Working with the Program Committee to collaboratively run program. Orange County Natural History Lecture Series Developing positive worldng relationships with Fish and Game staff. Orange County Natural History Lecture Series As of March 2009, the City hosts this lecture series. It is held at the Back Bay Science Center on the first Wednesday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. Why This Is A Great Program Location, location, location...... our "product" and our people. Pi