Cambria State Marine Conservation Area facts for kids
The Cambria State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a special ocean area. It is located off the coast of Cambria, California. This area is on California's central coast in San Luis Obispo County, California. This protected ocean space is about 6.26 square miles (16.2 km2) big. In this area, you can fish for fun (recreational fishing). But big fishing boats (commercial fishing) are not allowed to catch anything. This helps protect ocean life.
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What is the History of Cambria SMCA?
The Cambria SMCA was created in September 2007. The California Department of Fish & Game set it up. It was one of the first 29 marine protected areas. These areas were part of a big plan called the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. This plan helps create a network of protected ocean areas. They stretch all along the California coastline.
Where is Cambria SMCA Located?
The Cambria SMCA is right off the coast of Cambria. It is next to the White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area. This protected ocean area is also near Hearst San Simeon State Park.
What Kind of Nature and Wildlife are Here?
This special ocean area protects many important habitats. These include streams where steelhead fish live. There are also kelp forests and rocky shorelines. You can find sandy beaches and reefs here too. The area is home to many different animals. These include sea otters and various kinds of birds.
What Can You Do for Fun Here?
The nearby Hearst San Simeon State Park offers many fun things to do. You can visit it all year round. Some activities include hiking and fishing. You can also go surfing or watch for whales. The park has two places to camp. One of them is a simple, undeveloped campsite.
Hearst Castle is also close by. It was once the home of William Randolph Hearst. You can take tours of this famous historic monument.
California's marine protected areas encourage ocean activities. You can go kayaking, diving, or snorkeling. Swimming is also allowed. These activities are permitted unless there are special rules against them.
How Do Scientists Study This Area?
Scientists are studying marine protected areas like Cambria SMCA. They want to see how well these areas are working. They also want to learn more about ocean health. Similar studies have shown good results. In other protected areas, fish have become bigger and more numerous.
Many universities and labs help with this research. These include Stanford University and the University of California Santa Cruz. Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also take part. Scientists use different methods to study the ocean. They might fish with hooks and lines. They also do surveys by diving or exploring the shore. They even use special underwater robots called ROVs.
