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It is a tragic tale of loving something to death. The white abalone, a creature that once blanketed the rocky waters of southern California, is now on the brink of extinction. The culprit? Humans.

For decades, conservationists have struggled to implement programs that will work to protect marine life in an arena with a burgeoning population and an even greater demand.

To the relief of conservationists and scientists alike, two laws enacted in 1999 have begun to show progress, according to a report released by UCLA’s Institute of the Environment.

Previously, people operated as if there were an endless amount of resources in the water, no matter how much fishing took place, said Gregor Hodgson, visiting professor at the UCLA Institute of the Environment.

Now, the Marine Life Protection Act and the Marine Life Management Act allow the Department of Fish and Game to manage marine resources.

Hodgson was responsible for the Institute’s report card, giving Southern California a grade of B- for marine conservation, largely because of the two laws.

“For Southern California, there are two fisheries for which there have been fishery management plans prepared, which is a big step,” said Michael Weber, a freelance writer and research consultant specializing in marine and coastal conservation.

In particular, the Nearshore Fishery Management Plan has focused on protecting 19 species of fin fish, such as black rockfish, that frequent kelp beds and reefs in less than 120 feet of water off the coast of California.

Species were placed under the Nearshore Fishery Management Plan based on changes in catch levels, special biological characteristics and special habitat needs.

The plan focuses on preventing overfishing, rebuilding depressed stocks, ensuring conservation, and promoting habitat protection and restoration, by protecting and restricting areas for commercial fishing.

Despite improvements, there is still much left to be done.

“The living marine (species) are in a pretty disastrous state – about the same or worse than in many third-world countries,” Hodgson said.

Work that needs to be done includes reproducing endangered marine species in captivity, then placing them in the wild at an age when they can better defend themselves, said Hodgson.

Efforts similar to this are being pursued at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, located in San Pedro, Calif. Currently, the aquarium is raising baby Geribaldis, the state fish of California, and giving them to other aquariums so they do not have to be caught in the wild, said education specialist at the aquarium, Linda Chilton.

Conservationists say the federal government and other political leaders have to step in when necessary to ensure protection.

“The government should provide the leadership and umbrella, the legal framework for marine conservation,” Hodgson said.

In addition, there is growing concern that future progress will be hindered because of budget cuts.

“The part of the Department of Fish and Game that has to do with managing and conserving marine wildlife is a relatively small part of Fish and Game already, but they will be losing 20 percent of their staff,” Weber said. “They would have to reduce the expectations of what they can actually do.”