A.S. Coastal Fund will host an educational workshop this Wednesday delving into the ecology of UCSB’s Marine Protected Area as well as the policies regarding its preservation.

Speakers from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, the Marine Science Institute, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the California Department of Fish and Game will meet in Bren Hall 1414 at 3 p.m. to provide professional insight into the shoreline’s status as a No-Take Marine Conservation Area — a site where human activity is under certain restriction to protect the natural environment. Following the lectures, speakers will hold a panel discussion and Q&A session, encouraging attendees to seek out answers regarding ecological issues in the county.

While categorizing this specific region as a Marine Conservation Area does defend many species from habitat-disrupting practices, the classification has little control over pollution of the air above the water that indirectly harms the marine life below. The workshop aims to educate the public on life near an MCA area — like which actions may cause long-term damage to the fragile surrounding environment.

UCSB’s student-backed and student-run Coastal Fund intends to guard the UCSB coastline by conserving both the terrestrial and aquatic habitats within the Santa Barbara area. Since its creation in 1999, Coastal Fund has provided about $1.5 million for more than 350 locally financed programs and projects.