Thursday, March 17, 2011

Can Networking California's Coastline Save Fishing Industries?

Marine Protected Areas, or "hope spots" are not simply small areas set aside where wildlife has a fighting chance. Well, they are, but they're so much more. Within MPAs, species are given room to thrive, but that health and life overflows into the areas surrounding the hope spot and beyond. The importance of MPAs really shines through when they are large enough and close enough together to function as a network, with humans benefiting from the life that is regenerated and spills outside the zones, effectively saving suffering fisheries -- and where wildlife doesn't face such constant dangers as the stray nets that captured the sealions above. A Wave of Change by filmmaker Kip Evans demonstrates exactly how important these areas are -- where fish can grow up to 70% larger, have more offspring, and repopulate areas outside the MPAs. Check out the short documentary showing exactly how this happens, and how incredibly beautiful the areas can be.

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