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Marine Protected Areas
Twenty-nine marine reserves are scattered from Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception in Santa
Barbara County, comprising about 204 square miles of ocean. Eight of them are off San Luis Obispo County. San
Luis Obispo County’s marine protected areas are located in pairs at Piedras Blancas, Cambria, Morro Bay and
Point Buchon. Map
Half of the areas are no-fishing zones. The other half ban commercial fishing but allow recreational fishing or the
taking of certain types of marine life. Ninety percent of the central coast area will remain open to fishing.
Diving, surfing, swimming and boating are allowed in all marine protected areas.
The purpose of such areas is to create refuges for marine life. The new designations significantly increase the
protection that marine life living in these areas receive. These protections include long-term safe havens for
rockfish and other bottom fishes, migration corridors for salmon, and a diverse environment that abalone, kelp and
numerous marine mammals and seabirds need to survive.
Because the threat of being caught is diminished, fish are able to live longer.Studies have shown that older and
larger fish can produce 200 times as many offspring as less mature fish.
Barbara County, comprising about 204 square miles of ocean. Eight of them are off San Luis Obispo County. San
Luis Obispo County’s marine protected areas are located in pairs at Piedras Blancas, Cambria, Morro Bay and
Point Buchon. Map
Half of the areas are no-fishing zones. The other half ban commercial fishing but allow recreational fishing or the
taking of certain types of marine life. Ninety percent of the central coast area will remain open to fishing.
Diving, surfing, swimming and boating are allowed in all marine protected areas.
The purpose of such areas is to create refuges for marine life. The new designations significantly increase the
protection that marine life living in these areas receive. These protections include long-term safe havens for
rockfish and other bottom fishes, migration corridors for salmon, and a diverse environment that abalone, kelp and
numerous marine mammals and seabirds need to survive.
Because the threat of being caught is diminished, fish are able to live longer.Studies have shown that older and
larger fish can produce 200 times as many offspring as less mature fish.
EIGHT RESERVES OFF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY’S COAST
Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve: The northern boundary is Point Sierra Nevada in San Simeon State Park.
The southern boundary is a Caltrans vista point nearly five miles south with a clump of small cypress trees. All
fishing is prohibited. It extends about a mile and a half out to sea.
Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area: It extends from the seaward boundary of the marine reserve
out three nautical miles. All fishing is prohibited except for salmon and albacore trolling.
Cambria State Marine Conservation Area: It extends from Pico Creek at San Simeon, six miles south to the
boundary between the Fiscalini Ranch and the Cambria community of Marine Terrace. It extends about a mile
offshore. Recreational fishing, but not commercial fishing, is allowed.
White Rock State Marine Conservation Area: It extends from the southern boundary of the Cambria conservation
area four miles south to a small point just south of the domes of the former Cambria Air Force Base. All fishing is
banned. Only kelp harvesting will be allowed.
Morro Bay State Marine Reserve: It comprises the easternmost arm of Morro Bay. Taking of any living marine
resources is prohibited.
Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area: This area comprises the remainder of the bay from the
entrance breakwater to the marine reserve. Waterfowl hunting is allowed, as well as the taking of finfish in the
northern two-thirds of the bay.
Point Buchon State Marine Reserve: It extends from Point Buchon, just south of Montaña de Oro State Park, two
and half miles southeast to Crowbar Peak near Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. From this point the reserve
boundary extends nearly three miles south. No fishing of any kind is allowed.
Point Buchon State Marine Conservation Area: It extends from the western boundary of the marine reserve to
three miles offshore. Only salmon and albacore may be taken.
Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve: The northern boundary is Point Sierra Nevada in San Simeon State Park.
The southern boundary is a Caltrans vista point nearly five miles south with a clump of small cypress trees. All
fishing is prohibited. It extends about a mile and a half out to sea.
Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area: It extends from the seaward boundary of the marine reserve
out three nautical miles. All fishing is prohibited except for salmon and albacore trolling.
Cambria State Marine Conservation Area: It extends from Pico Creek at San Simeon, six miles south to the
boundary between the Fiscalini Ranch and the Cambria community of Marine Terrace. It extends about a mile
offshore. Recreational fishing, but not commercial fishing, is allowed.
White Rock State Marine Conservation Area: It extends from the southern boundary of the Cambria conservation
area four miles south to a small point just south of the domes of the former Cambria Air Force Base. All fishing is
banned. Only kelp harvesting will be allowed.
Morro Bay State Marine Reserve: It comprises the easternmost arm of Morro Bay. Taking of any living marine
resources is prohibited.
Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area: This area comprises the remainder of the bay from the
entrance breakwater to the marine reserve. Waterfowl hunting is allowed, as well as the taking of finfish in the
northern two-thirds of the bay.
Point Buchon State Marine Reserve: It extends from Point Buchon, just south of Montaña de Oro State Park, two
and half miles southeast to Crowbar Peak near Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. From this point the reserve
boundary extends nearly three miles south. No fishing of any kind is allowed.
Point Buchon State Marine Conservation Area: It extends from the western boundary of the marine reserve to
three miles offshore. Only salmon and albacore may be taken.
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Big Sur Reserves. We are still gathering information, but here is a list of what we have so far:
Point Sur State Marine Reserve
Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area
Big Creek State Marine Reserve
Big Creek State Marine Conservation Area
