Point Sur State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area facts for kids
The Point Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are two special ocean areas. They are located off the coast of Point Sur, which is part of the beautiful Big Sur region in central California. Together, these protected areas cover about 19.68 square miles (51 square kilometers) of ocean. They help keep the ocean healthy and protect the amazing sea creatures that live there.
In the Point Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR), it's like a national park for the ocean. All marine life is protected, and you cannot fish or take any living things from the water. In the Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), most marine life is also protected. However, people are allowed to fish for salmon and albacore tuna there, both for fun and for selling.
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History of Protection
These special ocean areas, the Point Sur SMR and SMCA, were created in September 2007. This was done by the California Fish & Game Commission. They were part of a bigger plan called the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. This initiative is a big project that brings people together to create a network of protected ocean areas all along California's coastline. The goal is to make sure our oceans stay healthy for many years to come.
Where are these areas?
These two marine protected areas are right next to each other, just off the coast of Point Sur. The Big Sur coastline is famous for its stunning and wild scenery, with tall cliffs and crashing waves. These protected ocean spots are also close to Andrew Molera State Park and Point Sur State Historic Park, which are great places to visit on land.
Ocean Life and Habitats
The Point Sur marine protected areas are home to many different kinds of ocean habitats. These habitats support a wide variety of fish, seabirds, and other sea creatures like crabs and snails.
One important feature is a large kelp bed, which is like an underwater forest made of giant seaweed. This kelp bed is protected from strong waves by Point Sur itself. It provides a safe home and a nursery for many species, including different kinds of rockfish. Because these areas are far from big cities and busy ports, they are some of the few places in central California where fish populations are still large and healthy, and the ocean habitat is very clean and natural.
Fun Things to Do Nearby
There are many fun things to do near the Point Sur protected areas:
- Andrew Molera State Park is right next to the Point Sur SMR. It has many miles of hiking trails where you can explore. There's also a simple camp where you can walk in and set up your tent.
- The Point Sur Lightstation State Historic Park is home to the Point Sur Lighthouse. This lighthouse is special because it's the only complete lighthouse from the turn of the 20th century in California that you can visit. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places!
California's marine protected areas encourage people to enjoy and learn about the ocean. You can go kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming in these areas, unless there are specific rules against it for safety or protection.
Studying the Ocean
Scientists are closely watching some of California's marine protected areas, including those near Point Sur. They do this to see how well the protected areas are working and to learn more about the health of our oceans. Similar studies in protected areas near the Santa Barbara Channel Islands have already shown that fish are getting bigger and there are more of them over time.
Local universities and research centers help with this important work. These include Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, University of California Santa Cruz, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Scientists use different methods to study the ocean, such as:
- Catching and releasing fish with hooks and lines to count and measure them.
- Surveying tide pools and using scuba divers to explore underwater.
- Using special underwater robots called Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to see what's happening deep in the ocean.
