Author: Amber Fandel
For such a highly populated, ocean-adjacent region, the Los Angeles area does not seem to be educated enough about its own ocean conservation practices. Marine conservation has been, for some time, a process that Los Angelenos have either taken for granted or ignored altogether.
In Southern California, marine protected areas are the biggest asset to conservation of ocean environments. In these areas, government workers and local volunteers regulate human activity in areas of ecological importance. While some citizens of Los Angeles agree that conservation of our ocean ecosystems is important, few understand how policies are made, enforced or maintained. Some have never even heard of a marine protected area. However, the major question for policy makers, scientists and the general populace alike is “what makes a good conservation area?”
On an Oxy Richter-ASP winter break grant, I traveled to Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico to find a specific answer to this question. I found that the conservation techniques employed in Loreto are definitely superior to those used by the city of Los Angeles. The Loreto community’s passion for protecting its resources makes all the difference in the effectiveness of its conservation efforts. The level of involvement and care that the people of Loreto exhibit for their ocean ecosystem is not present in Los Angeles.
Most residents of coastal areas are unaware if their waters are protected, and they lack initiative and/or involvement in the conservation of the waters near their homes. Los Angeles lacks the community education programs and involvement in the preservation of marine ecosystems. According to many scientists, and in my personal opinion, this is why the marine protected areas of Los Angeles do not function as successfully as those in Loreto.
Marine protected areas all across the world have been instituted to conserve the resources, such as fish, kelp and clean ocean water, that the ever-expanding human population continues to destroy in order to sustain its economies. In Loreto, however, economic stability was eventually achieved through conservation. In 1997, the Mexican government instituted a marine protected area in Loreto, and it has since been very successful.
Since its implementation, the once endangered coral reef ecosystem has begun to thrive again. Loreto’s economy depends upon a healthy marine ecosystem. Many tourists come to Loreto to see an amazing display of ocean wildlife. In order to sustain tourism, healthy fish must also be provided for local restaurants. In order to preserve this economic resource and ecosystem, people in Loreto are willing to compromise with conservationists and scientists by agreeing to curb fishing in protected areas and limit trespassing.
While this agreement did not economically benefit the people of Loreto immediately, it affected tourism and fishing in the short-term, causing water quality and fish population to have drastically positive effects in the long- run. Los Angeles, unlike Loreto, has no need to conserve its fish population in order to sustain tourism. However, regardless of this fact, it is still necessary for Los Angeles to respect its waters. If the citizens of L.A. were receptive to compromise, as those in Loreto are, our oceans would greatly benefit.
Loreto is home to numerous conservation agencies, run by governmental and non-governmental organizations that monitor protected areas. Eco Alliance, a local organization, aims to educate youth and tourists about the importance of marine protected areas. Various governmental agencies also continue to enforce and monitor these marine protected areas. Reef Check, which is present in Los Angeles as well, uses locals to help survey and monitor the health of the protected areas over time. Additionally, “Orgullo,” or “Pride,” is a branch of the national governmental agency charged with protecting the waters surrounding the islands.
In contrast to Los Angeles, each of these programs in Loreto have an educational aspect, in which they inform the youth, as well as fishermen and other locals, about conservation techniques. This active involvement is the key to successful protection. Programs and opportunities such as these are nearly absent in Los Angeles, but are not impossible to implement. Reef Check is a relatively unknown organization in L.A., but it could quickly change that by reaching to locals for monitoring assistance instead of relying solely on scientists.
All hope for citizen education and involvement in marine conservation may not be lost for Los Angeles, though. Many locals volunteer for beach clean-ups, and education programs can be organized and sustained. I believe that if Los Angelenos had more pride in their oceans, they would be more inclined to take action.
If people are serious about the conservation of these vital resources, education and community involvement projects should be launched immediately through schools and other local organizations. If, in Los Angeles, children and adults participated in field trips to tide pools or aquariums, attended lectures on the importance and delicacy of ocean ecosystems and were simply taught to become involved and help protect the ocean, Los Angeles could be as successful at marine conservation as the town of Loreto, Mexico.
Amber Fandel is a senior biology major. She can be reached at afandel@oxy.edu.
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