White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area facts for kids
The White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a special ocean area that helps protect marine life. It's located off the coast of Cambria, California, a city on California’s central coast. This protected area covers about 2.32 square miles (6 square kilometers) of ocean. In this area, it's against the rules to take any living ocean creatures. However, people are allowed to collect giant kelp and bull kelp under certain specific conditions.
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Why We Have This Protected Area
The White Rock (Cambria) SMCA was created in September 2007. It was set up by the California Department of Fish & Game. This area was one of the first 29 marine protected areas made during the start of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. This initiative is a big project where people work together to create a network of protected ocean areas all along California's coast. The goal is to keep our ocean healthy for the future.
Where It Is Located
The White Rock (Cambria) SMCA is found off the coast of Cambria. It is right next to another protected area called the Cambria State Marine Conservation Area. This special ocean spot is also offshore from the Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve, which is part of the University of California Natural Reserve System.
The boundaries of this marine protected area follow the high tide line and connect these points: 35°32.85′N 121°5.85′W / 35.54750°N 121.09750°W, 35° 32.85’ N. lat. 121° 06.70’ W. long.; 35° 30.50’ N. lat. 121° 05.00’ W. long.; and 35° 30.50’ N. lat. 121° 03.40’ W. long.
Ocean Homes and Animals
This protected area is home to many different ocean environments. These include thick kelp forests, rocky areas along the shore, reefs, and sandy parts of the ocean floor. There are also tall pinnacles (underwater peaks) and rocks sticking out of the water. Many different animals live here, such as playful sea otters, noisy sea lions, shy harbor seals, and many kinds of birds.
Fun Things to Do Nearby
There are lots of fun things to do near the White Rock (Cambria) SMCA. San Simeon Park is right next door to the north. Here, visitors can go hiking, fishing, surfing, and even whale watching all year round. San Simeon State Park, also to the north, has a campground where you can stay.
You can also visit Hearst Castle, which was once the home of William Randolph Hearst. It's now a historical monument that offers tours.
If you want to see some amazing animals, you can view elephant seals at Piedras Blancas. This spot is about 10 miles north of the area. California’s marine protected areas encourage people to enjoy the ocean in many ways. Activities like kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming are usually allowed, unless there are specific rules against them.
Watching Ocean Health
Scientists are studying marine protected areas like this one along California’s central coast. They want to see how well these areas are working to protect the ocean. They also want to learn more about the overall health of our oceans. Similar studies in other protected areas have already shown good results. For example, in the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, scientists have seen more fish and bigger fish over time.
Many local universities and labs are helping with this research. 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. They might use fishing lines to catch and release fish, explore rocky shores, or dive underwater. They also use fish traps and special underwater robots called Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs).
