Upper Newport Bay State Marine Conservation Area facts for kids

The Upper Newport Bay State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a special ocean area. It helps protect marine life in Newport Bay. This area is in Orange County, Southern California. It stretches inland from the Pacific Coast Highway bridge. The SMCA is located within the city of Newport Beach.

Protecting Our Ocean: History of the SMCA

This special ocean area was created in December 2010. It is one of many new marine protected areas. These areas were set up by the California Fish and Game Commission. This was part of a big plan called the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative.

The Marine Life Protection Act Initiative is a team effort. People work together to create a network of protected areas. These areas are all along California’s coastline. For the South Coast, local divers, fishermen, and scientists helped design these areas. They wanted to protect sensitive sea life and their homes. They also wanted to make sure people could still enjoy the ocean. These new protected areas for the South Coast started in 2012.

Where is the Upper Newport Bay SMCA Located?

The Upper Newport Bay SMCA covers about 1.28 square miles. It includes important areas like estuaries and wetlands. An estuary is a place where a river meets the sea. Wetlands are lands often covered by water, like marshes. These places are very important for many animals.

The protected area includes the waters inside Upper Newport Bay. It starts northeast of the Pacific Coast Highway. It also includes waters inside the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.

Amazing Animals and Habitats

The Upper Newport Bay SMCA protects a special type of lagoon ecosystem. A lagoon is a shallow body of water. It is often partly separated from the ocean. Many unique animals and plants live here.

The SMCA helps protect marine life. It has rules about what people can take from the area. Most living marine resources cannot be removed. However, you can fish for finfish with a hook and line from the shore. Other activities like research or habitat restoration are also allowed. These rules help keep the animals safe and healthy.

Watching Ocean Health: Scientific Monitoring

Scientists are watching these protected areas. They want to see how well they are working. They also want to learn more about the health of our oceans. Similar studies have been done near the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Those studies have already shown good results. They have seen more fish and bigger fish over time. This means the protected areas are helping ocean life.

Fun Things to Do and See Nearby

The Upper Newport Bay SMCA is in Newport Beach. This area has many popular coastal spots. You can find miles of sandy beaches, coves, and hiking trails. People enjoy beachcombing, wading, surfing, and kayaking here.

To protect wildlife, collecting living marine resources from the shore is not allowed. But some fishing is allowed offshore.

Here are some rules for visitors:

• You can only swim in the area between North Star Beach and the middle of the channel.
• Boats must go slower than five miles per hour.
• You should only use marked trails or paths to access the shoreline.