List of marine protected areas of California

State and federally managed ocean reserves
Garibaldi, the state fish of California, photographed near Catalina Island's Casino Point State Marine Conservation Area

There are both state and federal marine protected areas off the coast of California.

Federal marine protected areas

State marine protected areas

Unless otherwise stated the source is the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.[3] The list is ordered north to south with some imprecision around the San Francisco Bay and Channel Islands locations.

Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)

There are 34 Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) off the coast of California. These are marine areas that "support an unusual variety of aquatic life, and often host unique individual species" that are monitored for water quality by the California State Water Resources Control Board.[4]

  • Region 1 – North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • Pygmy Forest Ecological Staircase Area of Special Biological Significance - Mendocino County
    • Del Mar Landing Ecological Reserve - Sonoma County
    • Gerstle Cove - Sonoma County
    • Bodega Marine Life Refuge - Sonoma County
    • Kelp Beds at Saunders Reef Area of Special Biological Significance - Mendocino County
    • Kelp Beds at Trinidad Head Area of Special Biological Significance - Humboldt County
    • Kings Range National Conservation Area of Special Biological Significance - Humboldt and Mendocino Counties
    • Redwoods National Park Area of Special Biological Significance - Del Norte and Humboldt Counties
  • Region 2 – San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Area of Special Biological Significance - San Mateo County
    • Farallon Islands Area of Special Biological Significance - San Francisco County
    • Duxbury Reef Reserve and Extension Area of Special Biological Significance - Marin County
    • Point Reyes Headland Reserve and Extension Area of Special Biological Significance - Marin County
    • Double Point Area of Special Biological Significance - Marin County
    • Bird Rock Area of Special Biological Significance - Marin County
  • Region 3 – Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • Año Nuevo Point and Island Area of Special Biological Significance - San Mateo County
    • Point Lobos Ecological Reserve Area of Special Biological Significance - Monterey County
    • San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz Islands Area of Special Biological Significance - Santa Barbara County
    • Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwater Park Area of Special Biological Significance - Monterey County
    • Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Fish Refuge and Hopkins Marine Life Refuge - Monterey County
    • Ocean Area Surrounding the Mouth of Salmon Creek Area of Special Biological Significance - Monterey County
    • Carmel Bay Area of Special Biological Significance
  • Region 4 – Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • San Nicolas Island and Begg Rock Area of Special Biological Significance - Ventura County
    • Santa Barbara Island, Santa Barbara County and Anacapa Island Area of Special Biological Significance - Ventura County
    • San Clemente Island Area of Special Biological Significance - Los Angeles County
    • Mugu Lagoon to Latigo Point Area of Special Biological Significance - Los Angeles County
    • Santa Catalina Island Areas of Special Biological Significance - Los Angeles County
      • Subarea One, Isthmus Cove to Catalina Head
      • Subarea Two, North End of Little Harbor to Ben Weston Point
      • Subarea Three, Farnsworth Bank Ecological Reserve
      • Subarea Four, Binnacle Rock to Jewfish Point
  • Region 8 - Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • Newport Beach Marine Life Refuge Area of Special Biological Significance - Orange County
    • Irvine Coast Marine Life Refuge Area of Special Biological Significance - Orange County
  • Region 9 – San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
    • San Diego-La Jolla Ecological Reserve Area of Special Biological Significance - San Diego County
    • Heisler Park Ecological Reserve Area of Special Biological Significance - San Diego County
    • San Diego Marine Life Refuge Area of Special Biological Significance - San Diego County

See also

References

  1. ^ "California Coastal National Monument". blm.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  2. ^ a b c d "NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries". sanctuaries.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  3. ^ "California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)". wildlife.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  4. ^ "Ocean Standards". California State Water Quality Control Board (www.waterboards.ca.gov). Retrieved 2023-11-14.