California fishing restrictions to take effect in October

The California Fish and Game Commission Wednesday voted that a network of Marine Protected Areas off the Southern California coast will go into effect Oct. 1.

Some MPAs ban all kinds of fishing and other removal of natural resources. Others allow for limited take. The areas are still open to diving and other non-consumptive activities, the Ventura County Star reported.

The 49 new MPAs and three special closure areas cover about 354 square miles, or 15 percent of the state waters between the Mexican border and Point Conception.

Department of Fish and Game spokeswoman Jordan Traverso told the newspaper that the agency will be working with groups to get the locations of MPAs out to fishermen and other groups. There will be no first warnings for fishing in the areas per se, but wardens will be able to use their discretion when they are ticketing people, she said.

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Click here for a map of the new MPAs.