Marine Life
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Sea Anemone
There are hundreds of places to explore along the shores of the Central Coast. The vast
underwater Monterey Canyon, lies just off the coast of Monterey. Twice as deep as the
Grand Canyon, it is largely responsible for the rich sea life to be found here. In the spring
and summer, cold upwellings from deep in the canyon provide nutrients that support
myriad species of marine life.
underwater Monterey Canyon, lies just off the coast of Monterey. Twice as deep as the
Grand Canyon, it is largely responsible for the rich sea life to be found here. In the spring
and summer, cold upwellings from deep in the canyon provide nutrients that support
myriad species of marine life.
Resident and visiting animals include the Gray Whale, Humpback Whale, various corals
and sea anemones, fishes, crabs, California sea lions, harbor seals, Northern elephant
seals, sea otters and pelagic birds. Boat trips into the bay are excellent for seeing
dolphins, whales, and birds like shearwaters and storm-petrels. Three hundred species
of invertebrates have been identified in Central Coast tidepools.
and sea anemones, fishes, crabs, California sea lions, harbor seals, Northern elephant
seals, sea otters and pelagic birds. Boat trips into the bay are excellent for seeing
dolphins, whales, and birds like shearwaters and storm-petrels. Three hundred species
of invertebrates have been identified in Central Coast tidepools.
Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, the country's largest, protects ocean and shore for more than 300 miles, from San Francisco
to San Simeon. The Sanctuary encompasses an area of 5,312 square miles - about the size of Connecticut, and extends as far
as 53 miles offshore. It features the largest expanse of kelp beds in the nation, 34 species of marine mammals, 130 species
of seabirds, 345 species of fish, 4 species of turtles, and countless invertebrates. Twenty-six threatened or endangered
species find refuge within its waters. 1,275 shipwrecks lie hidden in its depths.
to San Simeon. The Sanctuary encompasses an area of 5,312 square miles - about the size of Connecticut, and extends as far
as 53 miles offshore. It features the largest expanse of kelp beds in the nation, 34 species of marine mammals, 130 species
of seabirds, 345 species of fish, 4 species of turtles, and countless invertebrates. Twenty-six threatened or endangered
species find refuge within its waters. 1,275 shipwrecks lie hidden in its depths.
Our very existence and future depends upon the sea, yet oceans worldwide are being harmed by human activities. Marine
resources are finite. 90% of the world's large pelagic fishes, like tuna, marlin and sharks are gone. Most of the world's major
fisheries are exploited, overfished or depleted. Enough oil spills out of our nation's cars to equal the Exxon-Valdez spill every
eight months. Oceans absorb fully half of all the CO2 released by humans. The vast amount of CO2 entering the oceans
today is making them more acidic, which combined with rising sea temperatures could have devastating consequences for
anything with a shell or skeleton, essentially making them slower, thinner, and more susceptible to predation.
The good news is that marine ecosystems can recover to a surprising degree if given the chance. Marine reserves, like the
Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, permanently protect sea creatures and their habitats..
resources are finite. 90% of the world's large pelagic fishes, like tuna, marlin and sharks are gone. Most of the world's major
fisheries are exploited, overfished or depleted. Enough oil spills out of our nation's cars to equal the Exxon-Valdez spill every
eight months. Oceans absorb fully half of all the CO2 released by humans. The vast amount of CO2 entering the oceans
today is making them more acidic, which combined with rising sea temperatures could have devastating consequences for
anything with a shell or skeleton, essentially making them slower, thinner, and more susceptible to predation.
The good news is that marine ecosystems can recover to a surprising degree if given the chance. Marine reserves, like the
Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, permanently protect sea creatures and their habitats..
Marine Life Protection Act
The ocean off the coast of Cambria got a big boost recently when the California Fish and Game Commission created a
network of 29 marine protected areas stretching from Santa Barbara County to Santa Cruz County. Included in this network is
a non-fishing area in front of Rancho Marino called Cambria State Marine Reserve and complete protection for Piedras
Blancas, starting from the Elephant Seal reserve north to Point Sierra Nevada. A recreation-only marine park offshore from
Cambria from Lampton Street north to Little Pico Creek called the Cambria State Marine Park was also part of the approved
plan. The Commission alos agreed that other areas on the Central Coast deserved the highest levels of protection, including
Point Ano Nuevo, Natural Bridges, Point Buchon, Point Lobos, Point Arguello and many underwater canyons, pinnacles and
kelp forests.
The ocean off the coast of Cambria got a big boost recently when the California Fish and Game Commission created a
network of 29 marine protected areas stretching from Santa Barbara County to Santa Cruz County. Included in this network is
a non-fishing area in front of Rancho Marino called Cambria State Marine Reserve and complete protection for Piedras
Blancas, starting from the Elephant Seal reserve north to Point Sierra Nevada. A recreation-only marine park offshore from
Cambria from Lampton Street north to Little Pico Creek called the Cambria State Marine Park was also part of the approved
plan. The Commission alos agreed that other areas on the Central Coast deserved the highest levels of protection, including
Point Ano Nuevo, Natural Bridges, Point Buchon, Point Lobos, Point Arguello and many underwater canyons, pinnacles and
kelp forests.
| Shorebirds |
| Dolphins Common Dolphins are often seen along the Central Coast. Other types found here include Dall's porpoise, pacific white-sided dolphins, Risso's dolphins and bottlenose. |
| Marine Mammal Stranding |
Marine mammals strand for various reasons including biotoxins, illness, separation from mother,
entanglement in fishing gear, injury and natural causes.
If you spot a stranded mammal, observe it from a distance and immediately call the proper
agency. Note the precise location and nearest beach access.
Do not approach, touch or try to move the animal. Stranded marine animals are wild, they bite and
they carry disease. Please do not add to their stress.
entanglement in fishing gear, injury and natural causes.
If you spot a stranded mammal, observe it from a distance and immediately call the proper
agency. Note the precise location and nearest beach access.
Do not approach, touch or try to move the animal. Stranded marine animals are wild, they bite and
they carry disease. Please do not add to their stress.
| Marine mammals are protected by federal law. It is illegal for unauthorized persons to disturb, handle or feed them. It is also illegal to collect or possess parts of marine animals from dead strandings. |
Dead Whales, Dolphins, Sea Otters Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (805) 682-4711 x 320 Live Beached Marine Mammals San Luis Obispo County The Marine Mammal Center (415) 289-7325 |
| Central Coast Response Contact Information |