Piloting, Developing, and Incubating New Ventures

This program focuses on developing and institutionalizing new and innovative approaches for better linking science with policy and management. As its first such project, OST is incubating the Marine Protected Areas Monitoring Enterprise, which is a new entity focused on developing and delivering monitoring data essential for ensuring the long-term adaptive management of the new statewide system of marine protected areas (MPAs) being designated through the Marine Life Protection Act.

Marine Protected Areas Monitoring Enterprise

The California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) requires the State to design and manage an improved network of marine protected areas (MPAs) to, among other goals, protect marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems, and marine natural heritage. The MLPA also requires monitoring to ensure that the MPA network meets the goals of the Act, to facilitate adaptive management of the MPAs, and to improve understanding of marine systems.

The Marine Protected Areas Monitoring Enterprise was launched to lead development of efficient, cost-effective MPA monitoring that meets MLPA requirements. We work in close collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Game and other partners, and engage resource managers, policy makers, researchers, stakeholders and the public in planning and implementing MPA monitoring of the emerging statewide MPA network. To learn more about our work in each of the MLPA regions, please follow the links below.

North Central Coast Region

South Coast Region

Central Coast Region

North Coast Region

San Francisco Bay Region

The MPA Monitoring Enterprise currently has two job openings: Assistant Scientist and Knowledge Manager.