Captain’s Log: Marine Protected Areas Cast for Wrong Culprit

Captain’s Log: Marine Protected Areas Cast for Wrong Culprit

Our inshore ocean ecosystem is suffering from multiple stressors and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) could be helping us find causes and make improvements. But sadly, the wrong goal was chosen when we designed and implemented the California network of MPAs. What are the real stressors? The list includes agricultural runoff infused with chemicals used; urban runoff from communities; fecal bacteria and trash washed to sea from homeless camps along o…