Last year, California’s lawmakers agreed it was time to establish a statewide network of marine protected areas – an incredible group of underwater parks stretching all the way from the warm waters of San Diego all the way to the chillier waters that brush up against the Oregon border. Here, we take a look at some of the great things California’s Marine Protected Areas have accomplished in just one short year.
Celebrating Marine Biodiversity: 124 Marine Protected Areas Make an Impact
There are many ways marine protected areas are making an impact in California – from helping businesses grow, to ensuring divers enjoy more – and better – interactions with marine life. It took more than ten years for conservationists, government officials, tribal leaders, surfers, scuba divers, fishermen, business owners, and others to decide how the process of implementing the state’s MPAs should work. This in itself is worth celebrating.
Businesses in California have been hurting for years, but the MPAs are helping some make a comeback. Visitors in search of wildlife encounters in tide pools, at intertidal zones frequented by marine birds, and further out to sea where kayakers, divers, and surfers come face to face with dolphins, whales, seals, and other animals are spending their dollars at coastal businesses. That makes a huge difference and reinforces the importance of keeping the state’s environment in pristine condition.
Like protected areas topside, marine protected areas provide protection for wildlife including massive elephant seals, bright orange garibaldis, big sea bass, spiny lobsters, and others. Because the Marine Protected Areas cover all of California’s coastal habitats, ranging from kelp forests and rocky reefs to submarine canyons and river mouths, countless animals receive the protection they need to thrive. Even surfers are reporting increased encounters with sea otters, harbor seals, and dolphins while enjoying the solace MPAs offer.
Top Marine Protected Areas for Scuba Divers
You’ll need a cozy wetsuit or a drysuit for exploring some of California’s most exciting habitats, where such creatures as grumpy-looking lingcods, splendid nudibranchs, colorful anemones, and sharp-toothed wolf eels await. Head to La Jolla Cove for encounters with octopus, garibaldis, and countless leopard sharks, or take a trip to Catalina Island where the boulders and kelp host giant black sea bass that sometimes weigh in at 400 pounds or higher.
Experienced divers are likely to appreciate Naples Reef in the Naples State Marine Conservation area, where pinnacles, arches, and ledges covered in thick mantles of anemones shelter nudibranchs, cowries, and scores of fish that attract predatory sea lions and harbor seals. For beginners and snorkelers, Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area offers colorful corraline algae-encrusted boulders and an almost unbelievably beautiful kelp bed with a maximum depth of just about 30 feet. For those truly adventurous divers, a trip to the Farallons for cage diving with great whites can’t be topped. Whether you’re an expert or a brand new diver, you’ll find more than one site to whet your appetite for adventure when you dive California’s Marine Protected Areas.
There are many scuba shops that offer rental equipment, guided tours, and special packages to divers who are interested in exploring these MPAs. Spectacular at just one year old, they are sure to bring everyone – from kayakers to tide-pool explorers to divers – even more to love in years to come.