Assessing fishermen’s perceptions of the ecology and management of the California North Coast Marine Protected Area Network

There is a growing body of research related to the human dimensions of MPAs, and research shows that social elements can be just as important to MPA success as the biological ones. This thesis describes research focused on the MPA network developed in the North Coast of California. The California Marine Life Protection Act was the state law to create one of the largest networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the United States. Each network uses marine closures to attempt habitat restoration and creating refuge for exploited fish stocks. My research will provide information about fishermen's perceptions of the management of the MPA network as well as their knowledge about the local fishery ecosystems and the functionality of MPAs. I worked collaboratively with fishermen to gather socioeconomic information about the network. Research is based on surveys of over 150 commercial fishermen, and five focus group conversations with 5-12 individuals the region's five main ports. This work is a component to be integrated into a larger examination of the socioeconomic consequences of the Northern California MPAs. Results indicate there is a lack of trust in management regimes and a gap between local and scientific knowledge related to the function of MPA networks. This study's findings also exemplify the need for improved trust and communication between fishermen and managers, and a more integrative system of management incorporating knowledge from local experts who are in these habitats daily and whose livelihoods depend directly upon marine ecosystem health.