Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
Encyclopedia
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area and Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) 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 together encompass 2.96 mi2. Within SMCAs fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line and the commercial take of giant and bull kelp under certain conditions.
Initiative, which created a statewide network of marine protected areas along the California coastline.
, at the southern end of Monterey Bay
. It covers an area of .22 sq. miles. The reserve is directly offshore from the Monterey Bay Aquarium
and Cannery Row
.
It was named for Edward F. Ricketts (1897–1948) who founded the Pacific Biological Laboratories
in Monterey.
It is the easternmost of four marine protected areas bordering the Monterey Peninsula.
Edward F. Ricketts SMCA is bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 36°36.50′N 121°53.37′W, 36°37.25′N 121°53.78′W, and 36°37.10′N 121°54.09′W,then the mean high tide line along the coast back to the breakwater of Monterey Harbor.
The Lovers Point State Marine Reserve
is adjacent to the west of Ricketts SMCA, and then beyond that the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area. It is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 36°37.6′N 121°54.91′W, 36°37.6′N 121°54.75′W, 36°38.7′N 121°55.4′W, 36°38.9′N 121°56.6′W,and 36°38.22′N 121°56.15′W, then along to coast back to the first point.
Farther south and west is the Asilomar State Marine Reserve
. All four areas are included within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
.
, beach
, rocky intertidal, and soft and hard bottom.
In addition to diving and visiting the aquarium, people enjoy the Monterey Bay by kayaking, whale watching, charter fishing, and eating an array of locally sourced seafood restaurants.
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 between the two SMCAs), 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’s central coast. The four areas together encompass 2.96 mi2. Within SMCAs fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line and the commercial take of giant and bull kelp under certain conditions.
History
The two State Marine Conservation Areas were established in September 2007 by the California Department of Fish & Game. They were two of 29 marine protected areas adopted during the first phase of the Marine Life Protection ActMarine 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.
Geography and natural features
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area 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
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....
. It covers an area of .22 sq. miles. The reserve is directly offshore from 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...
and Cannery Row
Cannery Row
Cannery Row is the waterfront street in the New Monterey section of Monterey, California. It is the site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning factories. The last cannery closed in 1973...
.
It was named for Edward F. Ricketts (1897–1948) who founded the Pacific Biological Laboratories
Pacific Biological Laboratories
Pacific Biological Laboratories, abbreviated PBL, was a biological supply house that sold preserved animals and prepared specimen microscope slide, many were of maritime aquatic species, to schools, museums, and research institutions...
in Monterey.
It is the easternmost of four marine protected areas bordering the Monterey Peninsula.
Edward F. Ricketts SMCA is bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 36°36.50′N 121°53.37′W, 36°37.25′N 121°53.78′W, and 36°37.10′N 121°54.09′W,then the mean high tide line along the coast back to the breakwater of Monterey Harbor.
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...
is adjacent to the west of Ricketts SMCA, and then beyond that the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area. It is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 36°37.6′N 121°54.91′W, 36°37.6′N 121°54.75′W, 36°38.7′N 121°55.4′W, 36°38.9′N 121°56.6′W,and 36°38.22′N 121°56.15′W, then along to coast back to the first point.
Farther south and west is the Asilomar State Marine Reserve
Asilomar State Marine Reserve
Asilomar 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...
. 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....
.
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. SMCAs provide 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
The natural beauty and ocean resources of the Monterey Peninsula draw millions of visitors from around the world each year, including more than 65,000 scuba divers drawn by the area’s easy access, variety of wildlife, and massive kelp forests.In addition to diving and visiting the aquarium, people enjoy the Monterey Bay by kayaking, whale watching, charter fishing, and eating an array of locally sourced seafood restaurants.
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 between the two SMCAs), 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.