Bill Text: CA ACR210 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 210

Bill Title: Conservation: Marine Protected Areas.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-07-01 - Re-referred to Com. on APPR. [ACR210 Detail]

Download: California-2023-ACR210-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly June 27, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Concurrent Resolution

No. 210

Introduced by Assembly Member Bennett

June 06, 2024

Relative to coastal waters.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 210, as amended, Bennett. Conservation: Marine Protected Areas.

This measure would call upon the Natural Resources Agency, the Ocean Protection Council, the Fish and Game Commission, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to prioritize the creation of new fully and highly protected Marine Protected Areas through the pathways of strengthened protections within National Marine Sanctuaries and adaptive management of the California prioritize, as supported by science, public process, and the adaptive management process, the expansion of California’s Marine Protected Area Network following its first Decadal Management ~~Review.~~ Review to achieve the state’s 30x30 marine conservation goals.

Fiscal Committee: YES

WHEREAS, The State of California recognizes that human existence and well-being depend on healthy and thriving nature; and

WHEREAS, Our identity and well-being as Californians is inextricably tied to the Pacific Ocean and our majestic coastline; and

WHEREAS, Scientists have warned for decades that warming needs to stay below 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and it is estimated that the planet could reach 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming above preindustrial levels in a decade, with a substantial possibility of global temperature rise crossing the 2-degree threshold by midcentury, even with significant global efforts to bring down planet-warming pollution; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report from January 2023 showed that if that limit is breached, some changes will be irreversible for hundreds, if not thousands, of years; and

WHEREAS, To stem biodiversity loss and protect against the impacts of climate change, we must conserve 30 percent of representative ecosystems by the year 2030, which has come to be known as 30x30; and

WHEREAS, California took bold action to combat the biodiversity crisis and create equitable access to nature for all Californians with Executive Order No. N-82-20 by codifying the 30x30 goal into state law with Senate Bill 337 of the 2023–24 Regular Session; and

WHEREAS, California advanced the global climate effort with its “Ocean-Climate Contribution” at COP24 to support the Paris Climate Agreement and showcased how the ocean offers critical solutions to climate change, listing the California Marine Protected Area Network as an adaptation action; and

WHEREAS, California joined the High Ambition Coalition Subnational Task Force at COP15, which will support 30x30 across the world; and

WHEREAS, Current and emerging threats are impacting, and will continue to impact, marine biodiversity and habitats; and

WHEREAS, Although all Californians should have access to the outdoors, regardless of their background or location, many communities feel they are being excluded from decisionmaking opportunities regarding ocean health; and

WHEREAS, The ocean holds social, cultural, and traditional significance, especially to the original stewards of this land, the indigenous communities of California, who have protected the ocean ~~for centuries;~~ since time immemorial; and

WHEREAS, The California Marine Protected Area Network offers a proven model to safeguard marine habitat and wildlife from climate and extractive stressors; and

WHEREAS, The Ocean Protection Council is advancing four key strategies to reach the 30-percent goal by 2030 in coastal waters; and

WHEREAS, ~~Creating state~~ State marine reserves (“fully” protected) and certain limited-take state marine conservation areas (“highly” protected) ~~is the best way~~ are key ways the state can protect biodiversity and promote climate resilience for California’s marine ecosystems; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature calls upon the Natural Resources Agency, the Ocean Protection Council, the Fish and Game Commission, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to prioritize the creation of new fully and highly protected Marine Protected Areas through the pathways of strengthened protections within National Marine Sanctuaries and adaptive management of the California prioritize, as supported by science, public process, and the adaptive management process, the expansion of California’s Marine Protected Area Network following its first Decadal Management ~~Review;~~ Review to achieve the state’s 30x30 marine conservation goals; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.