Help map out protected marine habitats

You can help map out what regions of California's marine environments should be designated for conservation, recreation and commercial use.

MarineMap.org, an online mapping application created by UC Santa Barbara's Marine Science Institute with Farallon Geographics, allows anyone who visits the site to view maps of marine-related features in and around California waters. Users can log in and draw proposed MPAs (marine protected areas -- coastal or ocean areas where certain uses are regulated to protect natural resources or biodiversity) and specify what regulations will apply there. Users can then share their reports with one another or export the shapes to Google Earth so others can view it.

The interactive tool is meant to engage the public in protecting the local environment.

View a demonstration of MarineMap here.

-- Catherine Ho