California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative

Central Coast Project

Side-by-Side Comparison of Regional MPA Packages 1, 2, 3 and AC

Subregion 4: Point Sur to San Martin

PointLob

os SMCA

P o i n t

P i e d r a s

B l a n c a s

P o i n t

S u r

H u r r i c a n e

P o i n t

K a s l e r

P o i n t

AlderCreek SMCA

JuliaPfeifferBurns SMCA

AlderCreek SMR

JuliaPfeifferBurns SMR

BigCreek SMR

Point Piedras Blancas SMR

P o i n t S u r

L o p e z P o i n t

G a m b o a P o i n t

C o p p e r P o i n tP f e i f f e r P o i n t

H u r r i c a n e P o i n t

P o i n t P i e d r a s B l a n c a s

STATE HWY 1

HWY 1

MONTEREY CO

Piedras B

lancas S

MR

P o i n t

P i e d r a s

B l a n c a s

P o i n t

S u r

H u r r i c a n e

P o i n t

K a s l e r

P o i n t

Point Sur SMR

Big Creek SMCA

Big Creek SMR

Piedras Blancas SMR

P o i n t S u r

L o p e z P o i n tG a m b o a P o i n t

C o p p e r P o i n tP f e i f f e r P o i n t

H u r r i c a n e P o i n t

P o i n t P i e d r a s B l a n c a s

STATE HWY 1

HWY 1

MONTEREY CO

P o i n t L o b o s

P o i n t

P i e d r a s

B l a n c a s

P o i n t

S u r

H u r r i c a n e

P o i n t

K a s l e r

P o i n t

Expanded Big Creek SMR

Point Sur SMCA

Piedras Blancas SMCAPiedras Blancas SMR

Point Sur SMR

P o i n t S u r

L o p e z P o i n tG a m b o a P o i n t

C o p p e r P o i n tP f e i f f e r P o i n t

H u r r i c a n e P o i n t

P o i n t P i e d r a s B l a n c a s

STATE HWY 1

HWY 1

MONTEREY CO

M L P A C e n t r a l C o a s t S t u d y R e g i o n : S u b r e g i o n 4M L P A C e n t r a l C o a s t S t u d y R e g i o n : S u b r e g i o n 4P o i n t S u r t o S a n M a r t i nP o i n t S u r t o S a n M a r t i n

A C o m p a r i s o n o f P r o p o s e d M P A P a c k a g e s 1 , 2 a n d 3A C o m p a r i s o n o f P r o p o s e d M P A P a c k a g e s 1 , 2 a n d 30 5 102.5 Miles

Package 2 - 12/15/2005Package 1 - 12/15/2005 Package 3 - 12/15/2005

Prepared by DFGMarine Region GIS

1/18/2006/

State Marine Reserve

StateMarine Park

Subregion boundary

State Marine Conservation Area

Big CreekSMR - Package 1

Big Creek SMCAPackage 2

Point Sur SMCAPackage 3

P o i n t

P i e d r a s

B l a n c a s

P o i n t

S u r

H u r r i c a n e

P o i n t

K a s l e r

P o i n t

P o i n t S u r

H u r r i c a n e P o i n t

P o i n t P i e d r a s B l a n c a s

AlderCreek SMCAPackage 1

JuliaPfeifferBurns SMCA Package 1

AlderCreek SMR Package 1

JuliaPfeifferBurns SMR - Package 1

Point Sur SMR Package 2

Big Creek SMR Package 2

Expanded Big Creek SMRPackage 3

Point Sur SMCA - Package 3

Point Sur SMR Package 3

STAT

E HW

Y 1

HWY 1

MONTEREY CO

P o i n t L o b o s

P o i n t

P i e d r a s

B l a n c a s

P o i n t

S u r

H u r r i c a n e

P o i n t

K a s l e r

P o i n t

P o i n t S u r

L o p e z P o i n tG a m b o a P o i n t

C o p p e r P o i n tP f e i f f e r P o i n t

H u r r i c a n e P o i n t

P o i n t P i e d r a s B l a n c a s

Big Sur SMR

Big Creek SMCA

Big Creek SMR

STATE HWY 1

HWY 1

MONTEREY CO

M L P A C e n t r a l C o a s t S t u d y R e g i o n : S u b r e g i o n 4M L P A C e n t r a l C o a s t S t u d y R e g i o n : S u b r e g i o n 4P o i n t S u r t o S a n M a r t i nP o i n t S u r t o S a n M a r t i n

0 5 102.5 Miles

Package 1, 2 & 3 - 12/15/2005 Package AC - 12/15/2005

Prepared by DFGMarine Region GIS

1/18/2006/A C o m p a r i s o n o f P r o p o s e d M P A P a c k a g e s 1 , 2 , 3 a n d A CA C o m p a r i s o n o f P r o p o s e d M P A P a c k a g e s 1 , 2 , 3 a n d A C

State Marine Reserve

StateMarine Park

Subregion boundary

Package 1MPA's

Package 2MPA's

Package 3MPA's

State Marine Conservation Area

Subregion 4: Point Sur to San Martin Areas of Convergence and Divergence among Packages 1, 2 and 3

Point Sur: Divergence: At Point Sur, two of the three packages propose either a

large SMR or a smaller nearshore SMR with a contiguous SMCA offshore; boundaries differ between those two packages. The issue at Point Sur is the tradeoff between ecological values (marine area off headland with upwelling center and larval retention area with kelp forests and rocky reef; small estuary at Big Sur river, and head of Sur canyon) and fishery area impacts (nearshore rockfish and associated species, coastal pelagics, and salmon).

Julia Pfeiffer Burns to Big Creek: Convergence: All of the packages propose retention of the existing Big

Creek SMR, although some propose expansion. Divergence: In the Julia Pfeiffer Burns to Big Creek area, the three

packages have overlapping but divergent proposed MPAs ranging from one large expanded Big Creek SMR (Package 3), to an SMR/SMCA combination in the Big Creek area, to a SMR/SMCA combination in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns area while retaining the existing Big Creek SMR (Package 1). Most packages acknowledge the value of the existing Big Creek SMR – only packages 2 and 3 propose expanding the reserve as has been recommended in the scientific literature. The issue in this area is tradeoffs between ecological values (rocky reef and soft bottom across all depth ranges, kelp forest, sea grass beds, and the heads of submarine canyons) and fishing area impacts (nearshore rockfish and associated species, spot prawn, and salmon fisheries).

arine on er

MLPA Central Coast Project: Proposed MPAs and Regulations in Packages 1, 2, 3 and AC Subregion 4 (Point Sur to San Martin)

Package 1 Package 2 Package 3 Package ACMPA Name

(Level of Protection )

Allowed/ Disallowed UsesMPA Name

(Level of Protection )

Allowed/ Disallowed Uses MPA Name (Level of Protection)

Allowed/ Disallowed

Uses

MPA Name (Level of

Protection)

Allowed/ Disallowed Uses

Point Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR )

No take. Point Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR )

No take. Big Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR)

No take.

Point Sur State M C s vationArea (SMCA High )

Salmon and albacore only

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Marine Reserve (SMR )

No commercial or recreational fishing permitted, including no take of invertebrates.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA Moderate )

Commercial and recreational salmon and spot prawn take only allowed.

Big Creek State Marine Reserve (SMR )

No commercial or recreational fishing permitted, including no take of invertebrates. The area will retain its current no-entry regulations and exemptions.

Big Creek State Marine Reserve (SMR )

No take. Note: Current regulations applying to diver access at Big Creek do not apply to new areas covered by this proposal.

Expanded Big CreekState Marine Reserve (SMR )

No take. Big Creek State Marine Reserve (SMR)

No take.

Big Creek State Marine Conservation Area(SMCA Moderate)

Take of all living marine resources is prohibited except: spot prawn by trap and take of salmon and albacore allowed in waters greater than one mile from shore.

Big Creek SMCA(SMCA-Moderate)

Allowed: recreational and commercial salmon trolling and commercial spot prawn trapping.

SC = special closure, SMR = state marine reserve, SMP = state marine park, SMCA = state marine conservation area