In recent years, global warming, habitat destruction and other human impacts have been steadily degrading the health of our oceans, and valiant attempts to protect them have struggled to keep up. We have eaten over 90 percent of the biggest fish out there. If you’re a fish, the game is rigged against you, and one fish stock after another is being depleted to the point of extinction.
Fortunately, efforts are underway here in California to level the playing field, giving all marine creatures a fighting chance at recovery. The Marine Life Protection Act, a landmark law passed 10 years ago to safeguard precious ocean resources for the future, is now being implemented up and down the coast.
Here in southern California, we’re entering a crucial phase of the process. Fishermen, conservationists, surfers and other recreational users are working together to design an ocean protection plan that will work for our community. Together, they’re mapping out a network of marine protected areas.
Here in Malibu, we have some truly remarkable coastal and undersea gems. The canyon, kelp forests, and rich waters of Paradise Cove and Point Dume, for instance, are so beloved by so many people that efforts to protect them are bound to cause disagreements. The community’s love for these iconic places is the very reason we must come together to protect them.
We can all agree on the need for healthier wildlife and habitats and the Marine Life Protection Act is designed to deliver on both of those needs. We know it’s time to start thinking long-term about our marine resources. Choices we make today will have ripple effects felt for generations. The problems facing our ocean are very real.
Conservation is about leaving a legacy of good stewardship, and the Marine Life Protection Act is California’s chance to do the right thing by our ocean. We know that you cannot separate the health of your environment from your personal health, and we consider the fitness of the ocean an essential part of human wellbeing. Now is the time to take action and put the Pacific on the road to long-term recovery.
Laird Hamilton
Gabby Reece