By Associated Press - Monday, January 27, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Two years after sanctuaries were created to help preserve marine life populations off Southern California, officials say fishermen are largely complying with the restrictions.

The Los Angeles Times reported Monday (https://lat.ms/1i447TZ ) that Fish and Wildlife wardens last year issued about 145 citations for violations of the Marine Protected Areas. That’s a tiny percentage of the roughly 4,000 tickets issued for various violations across the eight-county district that includes the sanctuaries.

The Southern California Marine Protected Areas forbid or limit fishing in 50 zones spanning 15 percent of state waters from Santa Barbara County south to Mexico.

They are intended to help depleted species like rockfish and spiny lobster.

Since the sanctuaries took effect in 2012, recreational fishermen who fought their lost access have suffered a series of defeats in court.

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Information from: Los Angeles Times, https://www.latimes.com

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