Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area in Carmel Bay. Carmel Bay is adjacent to the city of Carmel-by-the-Sea and is near Monterey, on California’s central coast. The marine protected area covers 2.12 square miles.[1] Recreational fishing of finfish and limited commercial taking of kelp is permitted within the SMCA.[2]
The Carmel Bay SMCA was established in September 2007 by the California Fish and Game Commission. It was one of 29 marine protected areas adopted during the first phase of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. The Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (or MLPAI) is a collaborative public process to create a statewide network of marine protected areas along the California coastline.
The Carmel Bay SMCA encourages recreational fishing opportunities in an area close to a nearby port by precluding commercial extraction or take of invertebrates throughout the Bay but allowing sport fishing for finfish from shore, kayak, or boat.
This marine protected area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:[4]
36° 33.65’ N. lat. 121° 57.10’ W. long.;
36° 31.70’ N. lat. 121° 56.30’ W. long.; and
36° 31.70’ N. lat. 121° 55.55’ W. long.
Habitat and wildlifeEdit
Habitats protected by Carmel Bay SMCA include kelp forest, sandy beach, submarine canyon head, and surfgrass.[5]
Recreation and nearby attractionsEdit
Carmel Bay is a tourism and ocean recreation destination. Divers and kayakers are attracted to its unique pinnacle formations, granite reefs and kelp forests. Carmel-By-The-Sea also features an iconic white sand beach.
In nearby Monterey, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a major tourist attraction featuring a 28-foot (8.5 m) living kelp forest. The exhibit includes many of the species native to the nearby marine protected areas. The aquarium also houses sea otters, intertidal wildlife, and occasionally sea turtles.
California’s marine protected areas encourage recreational and educational uses of the ocean.[6] Activities such as kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming are allowed unless otherwise restricted.
Scientific monitoringEdit
As specified by the Marine Life Protection Act, select marine protected areas along California’s central 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.[7]
ReferencesEdit
^California Department of Fish and Game. “California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Summary of Central Coast MPAs as Adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission”. Retrieved on December 22, 2008.
^California Department of Fish and Game. "Online Guide to California’s Central Coast Marine Protected Areas". Retrieved on December 18, 2008.
^C. Michael Hogan and Michael P. Frankis. 2009. Monterey Cypress: Cupressus macrocarpa, GlobalTwitcher.com ed. N. Stromberg 2017-09-06 at the Wayback Machine
^California Department of Fish and Game. "Central Coast Marine Protected Areas". Retrieved December 18, 2008.
^Department of Fish and Game. "Appendix O. Regional MPA Management Plans". Master Plan for Marine Protected Areas (approved February 2008). Retrieved December 18, 2008.
^Department of Fish and Game. "California Fish and Game Code section 2853 (b)(3) 2013-03-26 at the Wayback Machine". Marine Life Protection Act. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
^Castell, Jenn, et al. "How do patterns of abundance and size structure differ between fished and unfished waters in the Channel Islands? Results from SCUBA surveys May 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine". Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) at University of California, Santa Barbara and University of California, Santa Cruz; Channel Islands National Park. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
External linksEdit
California's MPAs
Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
Carmel-By-The-Sea
Monterey Bay Aquarium
October 15, 2023
carmel, state, marine, conservation, area, smca, marine, protected, area, carmel, carmel, adjacent, city, carmel, near, monterey, california, central, coast, marine, protected, area, covers, square, miles, recreational, fishing, finfish, limited, commercial, t. Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area SMCA is a marine protected area in Carmel Bay Carmel Bay is adjacent to the city of Carmel by the Sea and is near Monterey on California s central coast The marine protected area covers 2 12 square miles 1 Recreational fishing of finfish and limited commercial taking of kelp is permitted within the SMCA 2 Feather Duster Worm Lingcod Reef Carmel BayCarmel Beach Contents 1 History 2 Geography and natural features 3 Habitat and wildlife 4 Recreation and nearby attractions 5 Scientific monitoring 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditThe Carmel Bay SMCA was established in September 2007 by the California Fish and Game Commission It was one of 29 marine protected areas adopted during the first phase of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative The Marine Life Protection Act Initiative or MLPAI is a collaborative public process to create a statewide network of marine protected areas along the California coastline The Carmel Bay SMCA encourages recreational fishing opportunities in an area close to a nearby port by precluding commercial extraction or take of invertebrates throughout the Bay but allowing sport fishing for finfish from shore kayak or boat Geography and natural features EditCarmel Bay SMCA is near Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve Point Lobos State Marine Reserve and Point Lobos State Marine Conservation Area On opposite sides of Carmel Bay are the only two extant stands of Monterey Cypress Cupressus macrocarpa 3 This marine protected area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed 4 36 33 65 N lat 121 57 10 W long 36 31 70 N lat 121 56 30 W long and 36 31 70 N lat 121 55 55 W long Habitat and wildlife EditHabitats protected by Carmel Bay SMCA include kelp forest sandy beach submarine canyon head and surfgrass 5 Recreation and nearby attractions EditCarmel Bay is a tourism and ocean recreation destination Divers and kayakers are attracted to its unique pinnacle formations granite reefs and kelp forests Carmel By The Sea also features an iconic white sand beach In nearby Monterey the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a major tourist attraction featuring a 28 foot 8 5 m living kelp forest The exhibit includes many of the species native to the nearby marine protected areas The aquarium also houses sea otters intertidal wildlife and occasionally sea turtles California s marine protected areas encourage recreational and educational uses of the ocean 6 Activities such as kayaking diving snorkeling and swimming are allowed unless otherwise restricted Scientific monitoring EditAs specified by the Marine Life Protection Act select marine protected areas along California s central 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 7 References Edit California Department of Fish and Game California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Summary of Central Coast MPAs as Adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission Retrieved on December 22 2008 California Department of Fish and Game Online Guide to California s Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Retrieved on December 18 2008 C Michael Hogan and Michael P Frankis 2009 Monterey Cypress Cupressus macrocarpa GlobalTwitcher com ed N Stromberg Archived 2017 09 06 at the Wayback Machine California Department of Fish and Game Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Retrieved December 18 2008 Department of Fish and Game Appendix O Regional MPA Management Plans Master Plan for Marine Protected Areas approved February 2008 Retrieved December 18 2008 Department of Fish and Game California Fish and Game Code section 2853 b 3 Archived 2013 03 26 at the Wayback Machine Marine Life Protection Act Retrieved December 18 2008 Castell Jenn et al How do patterns of abundance and size structure differ between fished and unfished waters in the Channel Islands Results from SCUBA surveys Archived May 31 2010 at the Wayback Machine Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans PISCO at University of California Santa Barbara and University of California Santa Cruz Channel Islands National Park Retrieved December 18 2008 External links EditCalifornia s MPAs Marine Life Protection Act Initiative CalOceans Carmel By The Sea Monterey Bay Aquarium Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area amp oldid 1107894019, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
