Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area facts for kids
The Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a special ocean area off the coast of San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties in California. It's on California’s central coast, about 55 miles south of San Francisco. This protected area covers about 11 square miles of ocean. Almost all ocean animals and plants are protected here, except for a small amount of giant kelp that can be harvested.
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Why This Area Was Created
This special ocean area was created in September 2007. It was set up by the California Department of Fish and Game. The Año Nuevo SMCA was part of a bigger plan called the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. This plan aimed to create a network of protected ocean areas all along California's coast.
The main goal of the SMCA is to protect ocean creatures. But it also allows people to keep fishing in certain popular spots nearby. For example, important fishing areas north of Point Año Nuevo and from Moss Landing to Davenport are still open for fishing.
Where It Is Located
The Año Nuevo SMCA is right next to Año Nuevo State Park. It includes the ocean around Point Año Nuevo and Año Nuevo Island. Another protected area, the Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area, is just to the south.
This marine protected area starts at the high tide line on the shore. It stretches out into the ocean for about 200 feet from the low tide line. This boundary runs between two points:
- 37°10.00′N 122°21.80′W / 37.16667°N 122.36333°W
- 37°08.70′N 122°21.00′W / 37.14500°N 122.35000°W
From there, the area continues south. Its outer boundary connects these points:
- 37°08.70′N 122°21.00′W / 37.14500°N 122.35000°W
- 37°04.70′N 122°21.00′W / 37.07833°N 122.35000°W
- 37°04.70′N 122°16.20′W / 37.07833°N 122.27000°W
Ocean Life and Habitats
Point Año Nuevo is a very important place for wildlife. Thousands of seabirds use it for breeding. Many marine mammals also live here. It's famous for its elephant seal "haul out" and breeding ground. This is where elephant seals come ashore to rest and have their pups.
The waters around the point attract many great white sharks. It's also a known spot for canary rockfish, which are a type of fish whose numbers have gone down. Threatened marbled murrelets, a type of seabird, rest on the shore and look for food in the calm waters near the point.
The Año Nuevo SMCA has many different kinds of ocean homes for marine life. These include:
- Rocky areas that are sometimes covered by water and sometimes not.
- Sandy beaches.
- Estuaries, where fresh river water mixes with ocean water.
- Offshore rocks and islands.
- Shale reefs.
- Forests of bull kelp and giant kelp.
Fun Things To Do and See
The State Parks next to the SMCA offer many activities. They have special guides called docents who lead tours. You can take tours to see the elephant seal colony from December to March at Año Nuevo State Reserve. The parks also have visitor centers, parking, and rangers to help visitors.
California’s marine protected areas encourage people to enjoy and learn about the ocean. You can do activities like kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming here. Just be sure to check for any specific rules or restrictions.
Studying the Ocean
Scientists are monitoring some marine protected areas along California’s central coast. This is part of the Marine Life Protection Act. They want to see how well these areas are working. They also want to learn more about the health of our oceans. Similar studies in protected areas near the Santa Barbara Channel Islands have already shown good results. Scientists have seen a gradual increase in the size and number of fish there.
