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Point Buchon State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area


Point Buchon State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Buchon State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are two adjoining marine protected areas that lie offshore Point Buchon in San Luis Obispo County on California’s central coast. The combined area of these marine protected areas is 18.21 square miles (47.2 km2). The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited. Within the SMCA fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the commercial and recreational take of salmon and albacore.

Point Buchon SMR and Point Buchon SMCA were established in September 2007 by the California Department of Fish & Game. They are two 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.

Point Buchon was named after El Buchon, the Chumash chief who ruled the area when the Portola expedition passed this way in 1769. El Buchon had a large neck goiter, buchon in 18th century Spanish.

These two marine protected areas adjoin each other off the coast of San Luis Obispo County.

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The Point Buchon SMR is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:

35° 15.25’ N. lat. 120° 54.00’ W. long.;

35° 15.25’ N. lat. 120° 56.00’ W. long.;

35° 11.00’ N. lat. 120° 52.40’ W. long.; and

35° 13.30’ N. lat. 120° 52.40’ W. long.

The Point Buchon SMCA is bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed except where noted:

35° 15.25’ N. lat. 120° 56.00’ W. long.;


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