Inspiring Public Awareness
and Action
MPA WATCH
Overview
Just off the coast of Los Angeles, Marine Protected Areas safeguard some of our region’s most important ocean ecosystems. These designated areas help protect marine life, preserve biodiversity, and give habitats space to recover and thrive.
But protections on paper are only effective when people understand and follow them. Fishing, pollution, and other human pressures continue to threaten coastal ecosystems, while limited public awareness and uneven enforcement can make MPA regulations difficult to uphold.
Strong, lasting conservation requires consistent monitoring, public education, effective enforcement, and communities that feel connected to — and invested in — the coast.
Climate change and biodiversity loss are
accelerating
the push to protect 30 percent of the planet’s lands and oceans by 2030
The Challenge
Unequal coastal access leaves too many communities
disconnected
from the ocean, and from opportunities to protect it.
Without
public awareness and strong enforcement,
MPA protections can fall short
Solutions
LA Waterkeeper’s MPA Watch program connects people to the coast and gives them a meaningful role in protecting it.
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Through guided outings, boat-based programs, shoreline activities, and community monitoring, we create welcoming opportunities for Angelenos to experience the ocean firsthand. These experiences support physical and mental well-being while building the knowledge, confidence, and connection that can grow into lasting stewardship and advocacy.
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Through year-round boat-based surveys, volunteers track fishing, boating, and other activity in Los Angeles County’s Marine Protected Areas. When we observe potential violations, we document and report them to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other enforcement partners.
We also partner with the department to conduct outreach to fishers, improve awareness of MPA regulations, identify areas where violations are more common, and strengthen compliance and enforcement.
