Background Agencies & Legislation Continue Search The waters off the Pacific coast are among the richest in biological diversity, or biodiversity, in United States coastal waters. California's living marine resources depend on the health of the entire ocean ecosystem to support thousands of flora and fauna species. This ecosystem includes habitats located within inland, enclosed, nearshore, and offshore waters. A variety of ocean and coastal industries, including fishing, marine aquaculture, biotechnology, tourism, and recreation, depend on the maintenance and enhancement of California's ocean and coastal habitats and living resources. These resources, and the economic base they support, will benefit substantially from the development of a comprehensive program to sustain California's ocean ecosystem into the 21st century and beyond. Some of the issues facing ocean and coastal resource managers in California include developing methods to manage California's entire ocean ecosystem, and the habitats that support this system; evaluating the ability of California's complex system of ocean and coastal managed areas (such as reserves, refuges, and State parks) to achieve a healthy and productive ocean ecosystem; developing a comprehensive approach to maintain sustainable fishery stocks off the California coast; evaluating the potential of aquaculture to supplement the growing demand for seafood and aquatic products, as well as assisting re-stocking programs; evaluating management issues raised by some increasing populations of marine mammal species in coastal waters; and examining the introduction of non-native species to the ocean ecosystem and developing strategies for addressing problems caused by their introduction and establishment. Responsibility for protecting California's ocean and coastal habitats and living resources is delegated among a variety of State agencies pursuant to various sections of California code. For example, the Fish and Game Code requires the California Department of Fish and Game to protect, maintain and enhance populations and habitats of marine plants, invertebrates, fish, mammals, and birds, and to support the multiple use of these resources. The Public Resources Code requires the California Department of Parks and Recreation to preserve coastal areas containing ecological, geological, scenic, or cultural resources of significant value. The California Coastal Act requires the California Coastal Commission to apply a broad range of ocean and coastal resource protection policies to development proposals within the coastal zone. The State Coastal Conservancy is authorized by State law to acquire and restore coastal wetlands, riparian corridors and stream habitats to facilitate non-regulatory approaches to habitat protection, restoration, or enhancement. Several State and federal statutes require the State Water Resources Control and Regional Water Quality Control Boards to maintain the integrity of the State's waters. Other State agencies are also involved in ocean and coastal habitats and living resources management. At the federal level, ocean and coastal habitats and living resources management roles have also been delegated to several agencies. For instance, wildlife management responsibilities are divided between the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). NMFS has major responsibilities for fisheries and marine mammal management, while sea otters and some federal fish hatcheries remain within the jurisdiction of USFWS. Other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, Minerals Management Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, have ocean management responsibilities which vary, depending on the type and location of the resource or activity.

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This file last modified on: Tuesday, January 24, 2006.
Document URL: http://ceres.ca.gov/ocean/theme/living_background.html
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