Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area in San Diego on California’s south coast. It is part of Batiquitos Lagoon, a coastal tidal wetland lying within the city limits of Carlsbad, and adjacent to Encinitas. [1] The SMCA covers 2000 miles. It protects marine life by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within its borders.
Batiquitos Lagoon SMCA prohibits take of all living marine resources except for take pursuant to operation and maintenance, habitat restoration, research and education, maintenance dredging and maintenance of artificial structures inside the conservation area per any required federal, state and local permits, or activities pursuant to Section 630, or as otherwise authorized by the department. Boating, swimming, wading, and diving are prohibited within the conservation area. [2]
Batiquitos Lagoon SMCA is one of 36 new marine protected areas adopted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in December, 2010 during the third phase of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. The MLPAI is a collaborative public process to create a statewide network of protected areas along California’s coastline. The new marine protected areas were designated by local divers, fishermen, conservationists and scientists who comprised the South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group. Their job was to design a network of protected areas that would preserve sensitive sea life and habitats while enhancing recreation, study and education opportunities. The south coast marine protected areas went into effect in 2012.
Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Conservation includes the waters below the mean high tide line within Batiquitos Lagoon eastward of the Interstate Highway 5 bridge, approximated by a line between the following two points: 33°05.44′N117°18.12′W / 33.09067°N 117.30200°W and 33°05.46′N117°18.13′W / 33.09100°N 117.30217°W . [2]
This area protects important estuarine habitat and associated species.
The coastline of Encinitas and nearby cities of Cardiff and Solana Beach offer ocean-view paths for bike riding. Swami’s beach connects with several miles of uninterrupted beaches, from the San Elijo Lagoon inlet to South Carlsbad Beach jetty. The area is popular for walking and jogging. Nearby cities offer shops, boutiques, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and golfing.
As specified by the Marine Life Protection Act, select marine protected areas along California’s south coast are being monitored by scientists to track their effectiveness and learn more about ocean health. Similar studies in marine protected areas located off of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands have already detected gradual improvements in fish size and number. [3]
The Batiquitos Lagoon is a coastal wetland and estuary located between southern Carlsbad and Encinitas, in the North County region of San Diego County, California. The lagoon itself consists of 610 acres with a drainage basin of about 55,000 acres. Its primary freshwater tributaries being San Marcos Creek from the east and Encinitas Creek which flows north along Green Valley, entering the lagoon under El Camino Real and La Costa Avenue, respectively. It is one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the southern California coast.
Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area located about 1 mile (2 km) west of Bolinas in Marin County on California’s north central coast. This marine protected area covers 0.66 square miles (1.7 km2). Duxbury Reef SMCA prohibits the take of all living marine resources, except the recreational take of finfish from shore only and the recreational take of abalone.
Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area that protects the waters along and off the coast of the University of California, Santa Barbara, the student community of Isla Vista, and the University's Coal Oil Point Reserve. The SMCA covers 10.51 square miles, including Goleta Point. The marine protected areas protect natural habitats and marine life by prohibiting or limiting removal of wildlife from within their boundaries.
Naples State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area that protects Naples Reef which is about three-quarters of a mile offshore along the middle of the pristine and rural Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County on California’s south coast. The SMCA covers 2.58 square miles. The MPAs protects marine life by limiting the removal of wildlife from within its borders.
Point Dume State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and Point Dume State Marine Reserve (SMR) are two adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore in Los Angeles County on California's south coast. Together, the areas cover 23.28 square miles (60.3 km2), protecting natural habitats and marine life by protecting or limiting removal of wildlife from within their boundaries.
San Diego-Scripps Coastal Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve (SMR) are adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore from La Jolla in San Diego County on California's south coast. The two marine protected areas cover 2.51 square miles (6.5 km2).
South La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and South La Jolla State Marine Reserve (SMR) are two adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore in San Diego County on California's south coast. The two marine protected areas cover 7.51 square miles (19.5 km2). The SMR protects marine life by prohibiting the removal of marine wildlife from within its borders, while the SMCA limits removal of marine wildlife.
Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area that extends offshore of Encinitas in San Diego County on California’s south coast. The SMCA covers 12.65 square miles. It protects marine life by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within its borders.
Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is one of a cluster of four adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore of Newport Beach in Orange County on California’s south coast. The SMCA covers 3.45 square miles of near shore waters. Crystal Cove protects marine life by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within its borders, including tide pools. Take of all living marine resources is prohibited except: recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line or by spearfishing, and lobster and sea urchin is allowed. Commercial take of coastal pelagic species by round haul net, spiny lobster by trap, and sea urchin is allowed.
Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area
Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are two adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore of Laguna Beach in Orange County on California’s south coast. The SMR covers 6.27 square miles, and the SMCA covers an additional 3.44 square miles. These two MPAs are part of a four-MPA complex on the coast of southern Orange County. Each protects marine life by prohibiting or limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within its borders.
Tijuana River Mouth State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area that extends offshore of southern San Diego County on California's south coast. The SMCA covers 2.91 square miles (7.5 km2).
Famosa Slough State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area in San Diego on California’s south coast. It consists of a 25-acre wetland and a 12-acre natural channel connecting to the San Diego River estuary. It is flushed by salt water from the estuary as well as rainwater from the surrounding neighborhood. It is owned and maintained by the City of San Diego as a natural park.
Goleta Slough State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area in Goleta in Santa Barbara County on California's south coast. The SMCA covers 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2). The SMCA protects marine life by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within its borders. Goleta Slough SMCA prohibits take of all living marine resources except for take pursuant to routine maintenance, dredging, habitat restoration, research and education, maintenance of artificial structures, and operation and maintenance of existing facilities in the conservation area per any required federal, state and local permits, or activities pursuant to Section 630, or as otherwise authorized by the department.
San Dieguito Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area near Del Mar in San Diego County on California’s south coast.
San Elijo Lagoon SMCA (SMCA) is a marine protected area that protects the lagoon near Encinitas in San Diego County on California’s south coast. The SMCA covers 0.44 square miles (1.1 km2). The SMCA protects marine by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within its borders. San Elijo SMCA prohibits take of all living marine resources except operation and maintenance, maintenance dredging, habitat restoration including sediment deposition, research and education, and maintenance of artificial structures inside the conservation area per any required federal, state and local permits, or activities pursuant to Section 632, or as otherwise authorized by the department.
Upper Newport Bay State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area in Newport Bay in Orange County and the South Coast region of Southern California. It extends inland/northeast from the Pacific Coast Highway crossing of the bay, within the city of Newport Beach.
Bolsa Chica Basin State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and Bolsa Bay State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are two adjoining marine protected areas located in Orange County on the southern coast of California, United States. The SMCAs cover 0.66 and 0.07 square miles, respectively. The SMCAs protect marine life by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within their borders.
Lovers Cove State Marine Conservation Area and Casino Point State Marine Conservation Area (SMCAs) are two nearby marine protected areas that include offshore, island marine habitat on opposite sides of Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island, off California's south coast. The SMCAs cover 0.06 and 0.01 square miles respectively. These SMCAs function essentially as dive areas in this popular diving and water sports area. The SMCAs protect marine life by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within their borders.
Cat Harbor State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area that includes offshore, island marine habitat at Catalina Island off California's south coast. The SMCA covers 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2). The SMCA protects marine life by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within their borders. Cat Harbor SMCA prohibits take of all living marine resources except: recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line or by spearfishing, squid by hook-and-line, and lobster and sea urchin is allowed; commercial take of sea cucumbers by diving only, and spiny lobster and sea urchin is allowed. Aquaculture of finfish pursuant to any required state permits is allowed.
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