White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a

marine protected area 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 conse ...

located off the coast of the city of Cambria, California on California’s central coast. The marine protected area covers . Within the SMCA the take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the commercial take of giant kelp and bull kelp under certain conditions.

History

White Rock (Cambria) SMCA was established in September 2007 by the California Department of Fish & Game. It was one of 29 marine protected areas adopted during the first phase of the Marine Life Protection Act 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

White Rock (Cambria) SMCA is located off the coast of

Cambria Cambria is a name for Wales, being the Latinised form of the Welsh name for the country, . The term was not in use during the Roman period (when Wales had not come into existence as a distinct entity). It emerged later, in the medieval period, ...

and adjoins

Cambria State Marine Conservation Area Cambria State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area located off the coast of the city of Cambria, California on California’s central coast in San Luis Obispo County, California. The marine protected area covers . Within the ...

. The SMCA is offshore from the Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve, part of the University of California Natural Reserve System. This marine protected area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: , 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.

Habitat and wildlife

Key habitats protected within the SMCA include kelp forests, rocky intertidal zone, reef and sandy bottom, pinnacles and offshore rocks. The area is home to various wildlife including sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals and birds.

Recreation and nearby attractions

San Simeon Park, which adjoins the Cambria SMCA, just to the north of White Rock (Cambria) SMCA, provides recreational opportunities for year-round visitors, including hiking, fishing, surfing and whale watching. San Simeon State Park to the north has a campground.

Hearst Castle Hearst Castle, known formally as La Cuesta Encantada ( Spanish for "The Enchanted Hill"), is a historic estate in San Simeon, located on the Central Coast of California. Conceived by William Randolph Hearst, the publishing tycoon, and his arch ...

, former home of

William Randolph Hearst William Randolph Hearst Sr. (; April 29, 1863 – August 14, 1951) was an American businessman, newspaper publisher, and politician known for developing the nation's largest newspaper chain and media company, Hearst Communications. His flamboya ...

, is at nearby Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument and offers visitor tours. Elephant Seals can be viewed at Piedras Blancas 10 miles to the north. 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 institutions involved in the monitoring include Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station, University of California Santa Cruz,

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories The Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) is a multi-campus marine research consortium of the California State University System, headquartered at Moss Landing, California. Organization Moss Landing Marine Laboratories is part of the Californ ...

and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Research methods include hook-and-line sampling, intertidal and scuba diver surveys, fish traps and the use of Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) submarines.

References

External links

California MPAsMarine Life Protection Act InitiativeCalOceansHearst San Simeon State ParkHearst San Simeon State Historic Monument
{{DEFAULTSORT:White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area Marine sanctuaries in California California Department of Fish and Wildlife areas Protected areas of San Luis Obispo County, California Cambria, California 2007 establishments in California Protected areas established in 2007