Marine Protected Area-themed swim accessory available to first 50 volunteers
San Diego County CA— Nothing says World Oceans Day like swimming in one of San Diego’s underwater state parks—and picking up trash to protect it. That’s why, on June 11, at its La Jolla Shores beach cleanup, San Diego Coastkeeper will give the first 50 volunteers a free Marine Protected Area (MPA) rash guard to wear with pride for doing good and having fun.
Like Earth Day but for our oceans, World Oceans Day (which is officially celebrated on June 8) is a global designation by the United Nations General Assembly.
To celebrate, San Diego Coastkeeper will giveaway blue, short- or long-sleeved rash guards featuring an “I Heart MPAs” logo on the front and an artist-drawn MPA map on the back. Coastkeeper hopes recipients will wear them with pride as they enjoy their favorite MPA activity, even if that includes taking in the view from the shore.
Often referred to as “underwater state parks,” MPAs are small areas where laws restrict or prohibit extractive use (such as fishing or kelp harvest). MPAs increase fish populations by providing a safe haven where fish can live and grow larger, increasing the likelihood of successful reproduction.
San Diego’s MPAs, which range from the Batiquitos Lagoon No-Take State Marine Conservation Area in the north to the Tijuana River Mouth State/Federal Marine Conservation area in the south, provide important protection to wildlife along the coast of Southern California, and they also preserve our heritage as surfers, swimmers, kayakers, and beachgoers.