Point Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are two adjoining

marine protected areas Marine protected areas (MPA) are protected areas of seas, oceans, estuaries or in the US, the Great Lakes. These marine areas can come in many forms ranging from wildlife refuges to research facilities. MPAs restrict human activity for a conserv ...

that lie offshore of Point Sur, part of the Big Sur area on California's central coast. The combined area of these marine protected areas is . The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited. Within the SMCA fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the commercial and recreational take of salmon and albacore.California Department of Fish and Game.
Online Guide to California’s Central Coast Marine Protected Areas
. Retrieved on December 18, 2008

History

Point Sur SMR and Point Sur SMCA were established in September 2007 by the California Fish & Game Commission. They are two of 29 marine protected areas adopted during the first phase of the

Marine Life Protection Act The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) was passed in 1999 and is part of the California Fish and Game Code. The MLPA requires California to reevaluate all existing marine protected areas (MPAs) and potentially design new MPAs that together form a ...

Initiative. The Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (or MLPAI) is a collaborative public process to create a statewide network of marine protected areas along the California coastline.

Geography and natural features

These two marine protected areas adjoin each other off the coast of Point Sur. The Big Sur coastline is known for its spectacular and rugged scenery. The sites are adjacent to

Andrew Molera State Park Andrew Molera State Park is a , relatively undeveloped state park on the Big Sur coast of California, United States, preserving land as requested by former owner Frances Molera. Situated at the mouth of the Big Sur River, the property was part ...

and Point Sur State Historic Park.

Habitat and wildlife

The Point Sur marine protected areas contain a wide diversity of habitats that support a range of fish, seabird and invertebrate species. The protected lee of Point Sur supports a large

kelp bed Kelp forests are underwater areas with a high density of kelp, which covers a large part of the world's coastlines. Smaller areas of anchored kelp are called kelp beds. They are recognized as one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on Ea ...

that provides a shelter and nursery habitat to rockfish and other species. Remote from ports and from urban development, the Point Sur marine protected areas protect one of the few remaining areas in central California that support large, healthy fish populations and pristine habitat.

Recreation and nearby attractions

, adjacent to Point Sur SMR, has miles of hiking trails and a primitive walk-in camp.

Point Sur State Historic Park Point Sur State Historic Park is a California State Park on the Big Sur coastline of Monterey County, California, United States, south of Rio Road in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, Carmel. The 1889 Point Sur Lighthouse is on the National Registe ...

features the Point Sur Lighthouse, the only complete turn-of-the century Lightstation open to the public in California. The Lightstation is on the National Register of Historic Places. California's marine protected areas encourage recreational and educational uses of the ocean. Activities such as kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming are allowed unless otherwise restricted.

Scientific monitoring

As specified by the Marine Life Protection Act, select marine protected areas along California's central coast are being monitored by scientists to track their effectiveness and learn more about ocean health. Similar studies in marine protected areas located off of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands have already detected gradual improvements in fish size and number.Castell, Jenn, et al.
How do patterns of abundance and size structure differ between fished and unfished waters in the Channel Islands? Results from SCUBA surveys
. Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) at University of California, Santa Barbara and University of California, Santa Cruz; Channel Islands National Park. Retrieved December 18, 2008. Local scientific and educational institutions involved in the monitoring include Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, University of California Santa Cruz, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Research methods include hook-and-line sampling, intertidal and scuba diver surveys, and the use of Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) submarines.

References

External links

California MPAsMarine Life Protection Act InitiativeCalOceansAndrew Molera State ParkPoint Sur State Historic ParkBig Sur Chamber of Commerce
{{DEFAULTSORT:Point Sur State Marine Reserve (Smr) And Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area (Smca) Marine reserves of the United States Protected areas of Monterey County, California Protected areas established in 2007 2007 establishments in California Big Sur