Following the California Islands Symposium there will be a special meeting focused on the Channel Islands Marine Reserves. This symposium will also be held at the Embassay Suites, and is free and open to the public.


Background and Purpose of the Symposium

In 2003, a network of marine reserves was implemented in state waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS). After a community stakeholder process sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and CINMS to identify priorities for monitoring, CDFG released the report “Channel Islands Marine Protected Area Monitoring Plan,” in February 2004 (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/channel_islands/index.asp).

The report identified priorities for monitoring the Channel Islands marine reserves and also scheduled the first progress report five years from the reserves' implementation. In 2008, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) will conduct a 5-year review of the Channel Islands marine reserves. CDFG intends to make a presentation and prepare a technical report for the Commission to summarize the results from the first five years of monitoring state marine reserves in the Channel Islands. The content of the report depends on contributions by local scientists who are monitoring marine reserves in the Channel Islands.

This special symposium on February 7-8 2008 is a first step in gathering information about the status of the marine reserves for this 5-year progress report.


Thursday, February 7th, 6:00 - 9:00 pm - Education and Enforcement

This session will feature a welcome and introduction by representatives from California Department of Fish and Game, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Park Service. This will be followed by one hour of presentations on education and outreach of marine reserves, and one hour of presentations on compliance with marine reserves regulations. Some time will be available for question and answer sessions.

Friday, February 8th, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm - Biological and Socioeconomic Monitoring

Following morning introductory remarks, these sessions will provide a full day of presentations by scientists from academic, agency, and non-profit organizations working in Channel Islands marine reserves. Biological monitoring programs that monitor species abundance and distribution, size, movement, ecosystem effects, and habitat changes will be presented. In the afternoon, the socioeconomics of marine reserves including recreational and commercial fishery economics, vessel distribution, and boater use of the islands will be featured. Some time will be available for question and answer sessions.

For more information please contact Danielle Lipski.