California's Underwater Parks
In December 2012, California became an international leader in ocean protection by completing the United States’ first statewide network of marine protected areas (MPAs). Like the nation’s parks, forests and wilderness areas protect wildlife and habitats on land, MPAs protect and restore unique areas of the ocean. California’s MPAs come in many “flavors”; the size and level of protection, including fishing restrictions, can vary from one area to the next. Also called underwater parks or “Yosemites of the Sea”, they’re designed to protect an entire ecosystem, rather than protecting just a single species and ensure healthy, vibrant ocean life for generations to come.
California’s MPAs safeguard critical ocean habitat, allowing sensitive marine communities such as rocky reefs and seagrass beds to thrive and recover. They also protect biodiversity hotspots and important foraging grounds that support numerous species of fish and invertebrates, as well as seabirds and marine mammals. This in turn benefits a wide range of species including plants like bull kelp, invertebrates like sea stars, and marine mammals such as seals and otters. As safe havens, underwater parks offer a home and refuge for big, old, fat, female fish (BOFFFF) to recover, grow and replenish our ocean.
MPAs are a "network of underwater nurseries"!
The north coast region is the fourth and final coastal region to establish a network of MPAs. Within the region, 20 MPAs and 7 special closure areas were designated from the California/Oregon border in the north to Alder Creek near Point Arena in the south. The north coast additions include spectacular areas along California’s famously beautiful and remote Lost Coast. These MPAs represent approximately 137 square miles (13%) of state waters in the north coast region with approximately 51 square miles (5%) designated as "no take" state marine reserves. These MPAs were approved and adopted in June of 2012 and went into effect in December 2012.
Ten Mile SMR and Ten Mile Beach SMCA are adjacent and about 10 miles north of Fort Bragg. The reserve includes Pacific Habor Seal haul outs and rookeries, and critical nesting and breeding bird habitat. The Ten Mile Beach SMCA protects soft bottom habitat and connects the Ten Mile Estuary SMCA to the offshore SMR. Ten Mile Beach is technically a series of beaches backed by one of the California coast’s longest dune systems and the home of the rare, endangered Snowy Plover. More than 90 species of birds visit or live on the sand and along the cliffs of this shoreline. Seals lounge on nearby rocks, while whales feed and play year-round.
Ten Mile Estuary SMCA is one of the least developed estuaries along the North Coast with intact, extensive, and functioning estuarine, wetland, and riparian habitat. The EstuarySMCA is designed to protect fish and bird communities associated with areas of diverse estuarine habitat, serves as a larval source, and enhances reproductive capacity of numerous invertebrate species. It also protects spawning and nursery grounds for populations that are found offshore and captures prime shorebird and waterfowl habitat, feeding areas for pinnipeds, as well as a habitat and transportation corridor for river otters.
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