Science-based and stakeholder-driven marine protected area network planning: A successful case study from north central California

The planning process for California’s Marine Life Protection Act in north central California represents
a case study in the design of a regional component of a statewide network of marine protected areas
(MPAs) for improved ecosystem protection. We describe enabling factors, such as a legislative mandate,
political will, and adequate capacity and funding that fostered a successful planning process. We identify
strategic principles that guided the design of a transparent public planning process that delivered
regional MPA network proposals, which both met science guidelines and achieved a high level of support
among stakeholders. We also describe key decision support elements (spatial data, planning tools, and
scientific evaluation) that were essential for designing, evaluating, and refining alternative MPA network
proposals and for informing decision-makers.