Point Lobos: Marine Protected Area

            On a daily basis, humans are not exposed to marine life as commonly as wild life. Even explorers who take on adventures everyday, are not exposed to marine life. Our deepest compassions are directed towards the beings we see on a stroll, a hike, or even a boat ride. However, even on the sea, marine life is not a way of life we are exposed to. Many of our actions are bases on what we see, and how we empathize with nature. With our naked eye, we see the litter on the trails and the damage humans are doing. However, the impact the litter has done to the ocean can only bee seen by satellite, or physically on a boat. We are also incapable of seeing the harmed animals that our actions have affected.

            Humans like to relax and kick back on the beach, and maybe go on a boat ride, but on many occasions, humans invade animal’s homes at their convenience. How would you feel if strangers walked into your house with no warning and left a mess every time they left? That’s how these animals feel, and they feel unwelcome too. The feeling makes the animals leave with nowhere else to go.
            In Point Lobos, China Cove was a home to many sea otters, but humans kept on going off trail to take pictures our lounge, forcing the sea otters to feel unwelcome. They eventually stopped going back to their home, and China Cove is closed because of it. Now, Point Lobos closed it off as a Marine Protected Area, hoping that the sea otters will come back to lounge and breed as they please. Point Lobos has many MPA to keep the waters a sanctuary for the animals who live there.

A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is essentially a space in the ocean where human activities are more strictly regulated than the surrounding waters - similar to parks we have on land. Point Lobos is labeled as a MPA. They also promote a healthy costal environment for all things living.

            Save our Shores focuses on the Monterey bay to enhance the integrity of the divers, fishers and loungers. Their three initiatives are Plastic Pollution, Clean Boating, and Ocean Awareness.

            To help promote the MPA’s that you visit, #MPAmondays with your Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter posts, also tag @SaveOurShoresOfficial.