• Source: Lovers Cove State Marine Conservation Area and Casino Point State Marine Conservation Area

    • Lovers Cove state" target="_blank">State marine" target="_blank">Marine conservation" target="_blank">Conservation area" target="_blank">Area and Casino Point state" target="_blank">State marine" target="_blank">Marine conservation" target="_blank">Conservation area" target="_blank">Area (SMCAs) are two nearby marine" target="_blank">marine protected areas that include offshore, island marine" target="_blank">marine habitat on opposite sides of Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island, off California's south coast. The SMCAs cover 0.06 and 0.01 square miles (0.155 and 0.026 km2) respectively. These SMCAs function essentially as dive areas in this popular diving and water sports area" target="_blank">area. The SMCAs protect marine" target="_blank">marine life by limiting the removal of marine" target="_blank">marine wildlife from within their borders.


    Activities


    Lover's Cove SMCA prohibits take of all living marine" target="_blank">marine resources, except for recreational take by hook-and-line from the Cabrillo Mole or take pursuant to maintenance of artificial structures inside the conservation" target="_blank">conservation area" target="_blank">area per any required federal, state" target="_blank">state and local permits, or as otherwise authorized by the department.
    Feeding of fish for marine" target="_blank">marine life viewing is allowed.
    Casino Point SMCA prohibits take of all living marine" target="_blank">marine resources, except for take pursuant to maintenance of artificial structures inside the conservation" target="_blank">conservation area" target="_blank">area per any required federal, state" target="_blank">state and local permits, or as otherwise authorized by the department.
    Feeding of fish for marine" target="_blank">marine life viewing is allowed.


    History


    Lover's Cove and Casino Point state" target="_blank">State marine" target="_blank">Marine conservation" target="_blank">Conservation Areas are two of 36 new marine" target="_blank">marine protected areas adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission in December 2010 during the third phase of the marine" target="_blank">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 south coast's new marine" target="_blank">marine protected areas were designed by local divers, fishermen, conservationists and scientists who comprised the South 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 south coast marine" target="_blank">marine protected areas went into effect in 2012.


    Geography and natural features


    These two MPAs include and protect diverse marine" target="_blank">marine habitat including dense kelp forests, sand flats and the myriad species for which they serve as habitat.
    Casino Point SMCA: This area" target="_blank">area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:

    Lover's Cove SMCA: This area" target="_blank">area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:


    Habitat and wildlife


    The rocky reef, kelp forest and emergent rock habitats in these MPAs support numerous species of invertebrates, plants, fish and marine" target="_blank">marine mammals; among them are garibaldi, rockfish, octopus, gorgonians, nudibranchs, bat rays, kelp bass and many more.


    Recreation and nearby attractions


    Catalina Island and its MPAs support world class diving along with numerous hiking, diving and snorkeling, kayaking, fishing and boating activities.


    Scientific monitoring


    As specified by the marine" target="_blank">Marine Life Protection Act, select marine" target="_blank">marine protected areas along California's south coast are being monitored by scientists to track their effectiveness and learn more about ocean health. Similar studies in marine" target="_blank">marine protected areas located off of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands have already detected gradual improvements in fish size and number


    References




    External links


    marine" target="_blank">Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
    CalOceans
    Catalina Visitors Bureau

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