One of the marine protected areas off La Jolla has been identified as “one of the most poached MPAs in California,” according to Del Mar-based ocean conservation group Wildcoast. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a marine protected area is a region designated and managed for long-term conservation of marine resources, ecosystems and/or cultural heritage. Mulligan said MPAs “are like a 401-k” in that “you have to set aside a little bit now but we’ll see benefits in the future.”La Jolla has four MPAs: the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve near La Jolla Cove, the San Diego-Scripps Coastal State Marine Conservation Area just north of Matlahuayl off La Jolla Shores, and the South La Jolla State Marine Reserve and the South La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area off Bird Rock. Through that equipment, Mulligan said, Wildcoast determined that the South La Jolla State Marine Reserve is one of California’s most poached MPAs based on citations written, let alone incidents of people fishing illegally without getting caught. Next meeting: The La Jolla Parks & Beaches board next meets at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave.