Asilomar State Marine Reserve
Encyclopedia
Asilomar State Marine Reserve (SMR) is one of four small marine protected areas (MPAs) located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove
, at the southern end of Monterey Bay
on California
’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass 2.96 mi2. The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited.
. It was one of 29 marine protected areas adopted during the first phase of the Marine Life Protection Act
Initiative, which created a statewide network of marine protected areas along the California coastline.
The reserve helps protect some of the central coast’s most heavily used and accessible areas near the shore while leaving most of the coastal waters open for continued fishing.
, at the southern end of Monterey Bay. It covers an area of 1.51 square miles (3.9 km²). The reserve is directly offshore from Asilomar State Beach
.
Asilomar SMR is the westernmost of four marine protected areas bordering the Monterey Peninsula. It is adjacent to the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area. Further east are the Lovers Point State Marine Reserve
and the Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
. All four areas are included within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
.
This marine protected area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 36°38.22′N 121°56.15′W,
36°38.90′N 121°56.60′W and
36°36.60′N 121°57.50′W.
, beach
, rocky intertidal, and soft and hard bottom.
drawn by the area’s easy access, variety of wildlife, and massive kelp forests
The Monterey Bay Aquarium
is a major tourist attraction featuring a 28 feet (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.
In addition to diving and visiting the aquarium, people enjoy the Monterey Bay by kayaking, whale watching, charter fishing, surfing, bird watching, tidepooling and walking on the beach. Asilomar State Beach, adjacent to the reserve, offers a .75 mile walking trail.
California’s marine protected areas encourage recreational and educational uses of the ocean. Activities such as kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming are allowed unless otherwise restricted.
Local scientific and educational institutions involved in the monitoring include the Hopkins Marine Station
(located at the Lovers Point SMR), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
(MBARI), and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
. Research methods include hook-and-line sampling, scuba diver surveys, and the use of Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) submarines.
Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census...
, at the southern end of Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean, along the central coast of California. The bay is south of San Francisco and San Jose, between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey....
on California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass 2.96 mi2. The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited.
History
The Asilomar State Marine Reserve was established in September 2007 by the California Department of Fish and GameCalifornia Department of Fish and Game
The California Department of Fish and Game is a department within the government of California, falling under its parent California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Game manages and protects the state's diverse fish, wildlife, plant resources, and native habitats...
. It was one of 29 marine protected areas adopted during the first phase of the Marine Life Protection Act
Marine Life Protection Act
The Marine Life Protection Act was passed in 1999 and is part of the California Fish and Game Code. The MLPA requires California to reevaluate all existing marine protected areas and potentially design new MPAs that together function as a statewide network. The MLPA has clear guidance associated...
Initiative, which created a statewide network of marine protected areas along the California coastline.
The reserve helps protect some of the central coast’s most heavily used and accessible areas near the shore while leaving most of the coastal waters open for continued fishing.
Geography and natural features
Asilomar SMR is located off the coast of the Monterey PeninsulaMonterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula is located on the central California coast and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and unincorporated areas of Monterey County including the resort and community of Pebble Beach.-Monterey:...
, at the southern end of Monterey Bay. It covers an area of 1.51 square miles (3.9 km²). The reserve is directly offshore from Asilomar State Beach
Asilomar State Beach
Asilomar State Beach is a state park unit of California, USA, providing public access to rocky coast and dune habitat on the Monterey Peninsula. The property includes the Asilomar Conference Grounds, a conference center built in 1913 that is now a National Historic Landmark...
.
Asilomar SMR is the westernmost of four marine protected areas bordering the Monterey Peninsula. It is adjacent to the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area. Further east are the Lovers Point State Marine Reserve
Lovers Point State Marine Reserve
Lovers Point State Marine Reserve is one of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass . The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries...
and the Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area and Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area are two of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four areas...
. All four areas are included within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a US Federally protected marine area offshore of California's central coast around Monterey Bay....
.
This marine protected area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 36°38.22′N 121°56.15′W,
36°38.90′N 121°56.60′W and
36°36.60′N 121°57.50′W.
Habitat and wildlife
The Monterey Peninsula includes extensive tidepools brimming with life. Its sandy beaches are used by pupping harbor seals, and dense kelp beds offshore provide shelter for sea otters. The Asilomar SMR provides habitat for a variety of marine life, and includes kelp forestKelp forest
Kelp forests are underwater areas with a high density of kelp. They are recognized as one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on Earth. Smaller areas of anchored kelp are called kelp beds....
, beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
, rocky intertidal, and soft and hard bottom.
Recreation and nearby attractions
The natural beauty and ocean resources of the Monterey Peninsula draw millions of visitors from around the world each year, including more than 60,000 scuba diversScuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
drawn by the area’s easy access, variety of wildlife, and massive kelp forests
The Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located on the former site of a sardine cannery on Cannery Row of the Pacific Ocean shoreline in Monterey, California. It has an annual attendance of 1.8 million visitors. It holds thousands of plants and animals, representing 623 separate named species on display...
is a major tourist attraction featuring a 28 feet (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.
In addition to diving and visiting the aquarium, people enjoy the Monterey Bay by kayaking, whale watching, charter fishing, surfing, bird watching, tidepooling and walking on the beach. Asilomar State Beach, adjacent to the reserve, offers a .75 mile walking trail.
California’s marine protected areas encourage recreational and educational uses of the ocean. Activities such as kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming are allowed unless otherwise restricted.
Scientific monitoring
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.Local scientific and educational institutions involved in the monitoring include the Hopkins Marine Station
Hopkins Marine Station
Hopkins Marine Station is the marine laboratory of Stanford University. It is located ninety miles south of the university's main campus, in Pacific Grove, California on the Monterey Peninsula, adjacent to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is home to nine research laboratories and a fluctuating...
(located at the Lovers Point SMR), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is a not-for-profit oceanographic research center in Moss Landing, California affiliated with the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was founded in 1987 by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard fame...
(MBARI), and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
The Moss Landing Marine Laboratories is a multi-campus marine research consortium headquartered at Moss Landing, California.-Organization:...
. Research methods include hook-and-line sampling, scuba diver surveys, and the use of Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) submarines.