Point Reyes State Marine Reserve & Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area

Point Reyes State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are two adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore of Point Reyes Headlands and within Drakes Bay in Marin County on California’s north central coast. The combined area of these marine protected areas is 21.49 square miles, with 9.38 in the SMR, and 12.11 in the adjacent SMCA. Point Reyes SMR prohibits the take of all living marine resources. Point Reyes SMCA prohibits the take of all living marine resources, except the recreational and commercial take of Dungeness crab by pot and salmon by trolling.

Point Reyes SMR and Point Reyes SMCA are two of 22 marine protected areas adopted by the California Department of Fish and Game in August 2009, during the second 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 north central coast’s new marine protected areas were designed by local divers, fishermen,conservationists and scientists who comprised the North Central 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 north central coast marine protected areas took effect on May 1, 2010.

Point Reyes SMR and Point Reyes SMCA are two adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore of Point Reyes Headlands and within Drakes Bay in Marin County on California’s north central coast. The SMR is onshore and the SMCA is offshore. Point Reyes is a spectacular and biologically diverse peninsula which has been designated a National Seashore.

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

37° 59.90’N. lat. 123° 01.29’W. long.; 37° 59.90’N. lat. 123° 02.00’W. long.; 37° 59.00’N. lat. 123° 02.00’W. long.; 37° 59.00’N. lat. 122° 57.34’W. long.; and 38° 01.75’N. lat. 122° 55.00’ W. long.; thence westward along the mean high tide line onshore boundary to 38° 01.783’N. lat. 122° 55.286’W. long.; and 38° 01.954’N. lat. 122° 56.451’W. long.

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

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