Abstract:
To date, only five marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established along the West Coast of the
United States, none of which extend more than 30 nautical miles from shore. These areas do not afford habitat protection for a number of highly migratory and often endangered pelagic seabird and
cetacean species found in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. Using sightings data for fourteen species
from a Minerals Management Service Computer Database Analysis System, I analyzed species
distribution based on oceanographic season (countercurrent, upwelling, oceanic), year (El Nino, La
Nina, neutral), patchiness, bathymetry (shelf, shelf-break, slope, pelagic), and index of dispersion
(Gx). The species density data were also compared to areas of existing MPAs to determine how well
current MPAs protect these species. The results indicate that current MPAs do not protect the habitats
of highly migratory species. I therefore compared existing MPA coverage to suggested MPA locations
and found much stronger protection in the suggested areas. Recommendations include not only
general areas for improved protection, such as the North Bend, Oregon region, but also specific season
and bathymetric features to protect as hotspots within the larger regions.
