Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: Advancing the Science and Policy of Marine Protected Areas

A network of marine protected areas was established in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in April 2003. Geospatial modeling tools were used to advance the science and policy underlying the network design. Scientists used a modeling tool, SPEXAN, to develop and evaluate design options. This modeling tool was used to process a large amount of spatially explicit data and to produce a set of solutions to the complex problem of where to establish marine protected areas. Each solution generated by SPEXAN included all conservation targets identified by planners, such as important habitats and species. The most efficient solutions, comprised of many small patches with high conservation value, generally were not practical for maximum compliance and enforcement. Thus, solutions with fewer and larger reserves were presented to planners for discussion. One of the most useful outputs of the SPEXAN analysis was a map of conservation value showing the number of times each planning unit was included in a final solution. Planners used the map of conservation value to begin the discussion about where to establish marine protected areas in the Sanctuary. Another geospatial modeling tool, the Channel Islands Spatial Support and Analysis Tool (CI-SSAT) was developed by NOAA’s Coastal Services Center specifically for the Channel Islands process. CI-SSAT was used primarily as a tool for visualization and querying of ecological and socioeconomic data. Planners developed design options in CI-SSAT and then used the tool to query the data to determine their potential benefits and impacts. Planners made adjustments to the design options in order to increase ecological benefits and decrease socioeconomic impacts. In June 2001, planners Satie Airamé, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, 113 Harbor Way, Suite 150, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 [email protected], 805-893-3387 Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary 93 submitted two alternative designs to the California Department of Fish and Game and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The network of marine protected areas established in 2003 was a compromise, developed by the agencies, between the two alternative designs. Throughout the process, geospatial modeling tools advanced the science and policy, eventually leading to the carefully considered management action.