MPA Compliance: Digital Signage Pilot Project

October, 2022

The Sonoma and Mendocino MPA Collaboratives identified lack of awareness of marine protected areas (MPAs) by visitors as the primary factor identified contributing to non-compliance in MPAs. Lack of awareness of regulations results in habitat impacts to tidepools and eelgrass beds, wildlife disturbance, illegal poaching, as well as an increase in coastal trash. The Collaboratives identified increased signage near areas of high impact as the primary strategy to improve compliance in coastal visitors. In 2022 the Collaboratives launched a digital message traffic signs pilot project to inform coastal visitors about local MPAs to improve regulatory compliance.

This pilot project provides insights into the status of MPA awareness, compliance, and effectiveness of digital highway sign deployment in two remote areas of the north coast of California. Findings from this pilot project include lessons learned, opportunities, and next steps.

This project is part of the MPA Collaborative Networks’ multi-year MPA Compliance Initiative and was entirely driven by local input through the Community Compliance Forums held in 2020 and subsequent collaborative meetings. It was made possible by a grant made through the Sustaining California’s Ocean program of Resources Legacy Fund.