The three broad goals of monitoring are to establish baseline data, record changes in resources and evaluate effectiveness of the Marine Protected Areas Network. Information gathered from monitoring activities helps determine the effects the MPAs are having on the ecological relationships, biological communities and habitats within the MPA Network and the Sanctuary.

Nearshore Biological Monitoring Plan
This California Department of Fish and Game document identifies specific monitoring activities, types of data collected, and how these data will be used to determine the effects of MPAs on species, ecosystems, and fisheries in the northern Channel Islands area.
California Dept. of Fish and Game Monitoring Planpdf

MPA Network Effectiveness the First Five Years (2003 to 2008)
The Sanctuary, California Department of Fish and Game, Channel Islands National Park and the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) at the University of California, Santa Barbara sponsored a public symposium on the first five years of monitoring, enforcement and education programs for the Channel Islands Marine Protected Area Network.
For the report click here

Deepwater Biological Monitoring:
To protect deep water habitats and ecological communities the State MPAs were extended by NOAA in 2006 and 2007, respectively. To better understand these areas requires special equipment, expertise, complicated logistics, and funding. NOAA hosted a workshop in 2005 to develop a framework for a deepwater monitoring plan.
For the workshop report click herepdf

Partners in Monitoring:

PISCO – Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coasts and Oceans

California Ocean Science Trust MPA Monitoring Enterprise