California State Parks Monterey Peninsula Monterey District: 831-649-2836 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) 711, TTY Relay Service www.parks.ca.gov Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area Lovers Point State Marine Reserve Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area California Department of Asilomar State Marine Reserve Fish and Game For more information: www.dfg.ca.gov Marine Protected Areas For boundaries and regulations, go to: Conserve key marine life and habitats www.dfg.ca.gov/MLPA

Preserve natural diversity Help stop poaching and polluting: 1-888-DFG-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258) Help rebuild depleted populations This publication is available in Protect geologic features and alternate formats by contacting cultural areas Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation: 831-647-4209 Support research and education

Offer recreational and economic opportunities

Image above: harbor seal (Steve Lonhart) below: striped shore crab (Jerry Kirkhart)

Cover: southern sea otter (Jerry Kirkhart) Central Coast Marine Protected Areas rom rocky shores to the depths of Monterey Canyon

California Is Making a Difference Monterey Peninsula MPAs • Kelp fronds sway in the swell and offer A series of small marine protected areas refuge for rockfish and other fishes. by creating a statewide network of marine lining the rocky intertidal and sandy Here, these long-lived species can grow protected areas (MPAs). Marine protected beaches of Monterey Peninsula teem with old enough to reproduce and replenish marine life. Located next to the cities of depleted populations. areas are underwater places designed Monterey and Pacific Grove, these MPAs Ecotourism to protect key habitats and species by are some of the most heavily used and The amazing marine life of the Monterey most accessible nearshore areas along prohibiting or restricting the take of marine Peninsula draws thousands of visitors the central coast. Widespread tidepools each year to fish, dive, hike, whale watch life. Just as the nation’s parks, forests and abound with hardy organisms such as and kayak. You can help protect MPAs by mussels, sea stars, and sea urchins, wilderness areas protect special places knowing and obeying the regulations for species which can tolerate the harsh the area you are visiting. on land, California’s MPAs protect unique conditions of life on the edge of the sea. areas in the ocean. The California MPA Amazing Marine Life Scientific Research With pre-eminent research institutions network includes the many different types • Organisms seen at low tide include such as Hopkins Marine Station (one of abalone, anemones, brown seaweed, of habitats found along our coast, from the first in the U.S.) close by, the rocky chitons, crabs, green algae, limpets, intertidal and kelp forest communities sheltered estuaries and lush kelp forests to mussels, nudibranchs, sculpin, sea of the Monterey Peninsula provide lettuce, sea stars, sea urchins, shrimp steep underwater canyons. natural laboratories for research. Inside and snails. these MPAs, crucial questions are being • Marine mammals such as sea otters, addressed to help us understand how to sea lions and harbor seals, rest on Image above left: giant green anemone (Jerry Loomis) preserve these precious areas. above right: leopard shark (Chad King) rocky shores.

bat star (Chad King) brown pelican (Jerry Kirkhart) diver silhouette (Jerry Loomis) kayaking (Claire Fackler) research (Steve Lonhart) mussel (Josh Pederson) California Marine Protected Areas The California statewide MPA network State Marine Reserves: No damage or take of living marine resources, geologic or cultural resources is allowed. includes four different types that vary in their State Marine Parks: No commercial take of resources is allowed, but some recreational take may be allowed (restrictions vary). purpose and level of protection, ranging from State Marine Conservation Areas: Some recreational and/or commercial take of marine resources may be allowed (restrictions vary). limited to no take. The MPA designations are: State Marine Recreational Management Areas: Restricts the take of living marine resources while allowing for waterfowl hunting to occur (restrictions vary).

Monterey Peninsula Marine Protected Areas blue-banded hermit crab (Jerry Kirkhart)

Monterey Peninsula MPAs MPA Recreational Uses Asilomar No fishing; All take is SMR prohibited. Pacific Allows recreational Grove take of finfish; Allows Marine commercial take of Gardens giant kelp and bull SMCA kelp by hand. Lovers No fishing; All take is Point prohibited. SMR

Edward F. Recreational hook Ricketts and line fishing SMCA allowed.

Regulations This document does not replace the official regulatory language found in California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 632, including commercial allowances and restrictions. • A fishing license is required for any fishing. • All existing take regulations still apply in addition to the ones listed above. • Unless otherwise stated, all non-consumptive recreational activities are allowed.