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SAN FRANCISCO BAY �BOATING AND �FISHING

A brief overview of opportunities on the water

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OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

Introduction to the San Francisco Bay
Science of marine conservation
Deep dive into local marine protected areas (MPAs)
Species you may encounter
Guide to fishing around San Francisco
Local engagement with your coast

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WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY

SAN FRANCISCO

POINT ARENA

SAN JOSE

Monterey BAY

Crescent City

Ukiah

Bodega Bay

Point Arena

Fort Bragg

Crescent City

Ukiah

Bodega Bay

Point Arena

Fort Bragg

Google Earth

YOU ARE

HERE!

Founded June 29, 1776 by Spain

With density of 18,000 people per square mile, San Francisco is most densely populated city in California

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to 10 MPAs and 6 Special Closures:

5 SMCAs (State Marine Conservation Area) = blue
5 SMRs (State Marine Reserves) = red
Adjacent to the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) and Monterey Bay NMS

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INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN SAN FRANCISCO AREA

Ohlone are the predominant Indigenous group, including:

Chochenyo & Karkin in East Bay
Ramaytush in San Francisco
Yokuts in South Bay & Central Valley
Muwekma tribe –regional

Ohlone traded salt, mussels, abalone shells and dried abalone meat. So abundant was the wildlife near Mission Bay that fish could be scooped up by basketful.

Other indigenous tribes in the are include: Graton Rancheria community (Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo), Kashaya, Patwin, Mishewal Wappo in the North Bay, and Bay Miwok in the East Bay.

Tribes are the first stewards of the land with inherent rights and responsibilities to ensure that the natural and cultural resources are sustained for future generations. Traditional tribal stewardship is based in maintaining natural balance, with the belief that if we take care of the ocean, it will take care of us.
The Ohlone are the predominant Indigenous group of the Bay Area, including the Chochenyo and the Karkin in East Bay, the Ramaytush in San Francisco, the Yokuts in South Bay and Central Valley, and the Muwekma tribe throughout the region.

Historically, the Ohlone lived off terrestrial and ocean resources, foraging and harvesting acorns, seeds, abalone, clams, mussels, crabs, salmon, smelt and marine algae. They also used shells and marine products as tools, decorations and tradeable goods and believed strongly that nature has a strong influence on life, and for this reason they respected it deeply.

Other Indigenous groups include the Graton Rancheria community (Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo), Kashaya, Patwin, and Mishewal Wappo in the North Bay, and the Bay Miwok in the East Bay.

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MODERN DAY NATIVE COMMUNITIES

Bay Area one of largest populations of Intertribal Native Americans in country with people from SW, Great Plains, and Eastern Woodlands

California now home to ~200 tribes, 109 of which are federally recognized

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SAN FRANCISCO BAY WETLANDS, MARSHES, AND SWAMPS

Largest estuary on West Coast
Estuaries act as a doorway for ocean fish who spawn in freshwater streams such as coho salmon and steelhead trout
Protection for juveniles
90% of the Bay Area’s salt marshes have been developed

Crissy Field in Golden Gate is an example of a successful salt marsh restoration project

The San Francisco Estuary is the largest estuary on the west coast of North America. Its watershed includes almost 60,000 square miles and 40% of California.
Estuaries provide transition from ocean to land and act as a doorway ocean fish who spawn in freshwater streams such as Coho Salmon and steelhead trout. For other fish and crabs, estuaries are the perfect place to spawn, leaving the juveniles in the protection of the vegetation and abundant food supply to grow up until they are ready to enter the open ocean.
90% of the Bay Area’s salt marshes have been developed. Restoration has become a buzzword as more regions of the bay become public lands administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service and state and county parks, or nonprofit land trusts.

In Golden Gate, Crissy Field is an example of a successful salt marsh restoration project, with many species of invertebrates and fish long gone from the area returning to the site.

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COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

FISHING

HIKING

SURFING

@Rene Rivers

WILDLIFE WATCHING

DIVING

KAYAKING

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HARBORS & MARINAS

Loch Lomond Marina
Travis Marina
Marina Bay Yacht Harbor
Berkeley Marina
Emeryville Marina
Treasure Isle Marina
Pier 39 Marina
Fisherman’s Wharf
San Francisco Marina Yacht Harbor
South Beach Harbor
Oyster Point Marina
Pillar Point Harbor

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BOAT RAMPS & LAUNCHES

Turney Street Boat Ramp
Boat Ramp Street (Richmond)
Berkeley Marina Boat Launch
Pier 52 Boat Launch
Encinal Boat Ramp (Alameda)
Coyote Point Marina
Pillar Point Boat Launch

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SCIENCE OF MARINE CONSERVATION

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WHAT IS A MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA)?

©Jim Johnston

©California State Parks

©Chad King/NPAA

©NOAA

Marine Protected Areas (or MPAs) are protected areas of the ocean created to ensure conservation and sustainability of marine resources for the future.

They are important to YOU and here’s why:

Fish populations are in decline worldwide

MPAs may increase abundance, size and biodiversity (variety of marine life), including fish

Many MPAs protect critical breeding, nursery and feeding habitats for fish and other marine species

Ex.) North Farallon Islands SMR and Southeast Farallon Island SMR both provide habitat for halibut, sturgeon, and many species of rockfish

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CALIFORNIA’S NETWORK OF MPAS

124 State MPAs, including 14 Special Closures

Protect 16% of California’s waters

9% no-take
84% of waters not designated as MPAs

Network completed in 2012

Managed by CDFW

Visit wildlife.ca.gov/MPAs

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A Variety of habitats

MPAS PROTECT A VARIETY OF HABITATS

SOFT-OCEAN BOTTOMS

SUBMARINE CANYONS

KELP FORESTS

INTERTIDAL

ESTUARIES

ROCKY REEFS

The MPA network contains representative habitats found throughout coastal waters, including estuaries, intertidal zones, rocky reefs, kelp forests, soft-ocean bottoms and submarine canyons.

SANDY BEACHES

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STATE MARINE RESERVES

CANNOT Take, harm, or pursue anything -living or nonliving- from these areas.

CAN Swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

MULTI-USE AREA NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES

CAN Take most species recreationally & commercially with a license.

CAN Swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

STATE MARINE

CONSERVATION AREAS

CAN Take certain species recreationally & commercially with a license.

CAN Swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN YOUR MPA?

Many kinds of MPAs--- while National Sanctuaries don’t limit take, State MPAs may limit some or all fishing and collecting.

“Take” means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, fish, mollusks, or crustaceans or attempting to do so.

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FINFISH & COASTAL PELAGIC SPECIES

Finfish = any species of bony fish or cartilaginous fish (sharks, skates & rays). Some examples:

Coastal pelagic species include:

Northern anchovy © NOAA

Pacific sardine © NOAA

Pacific mackerel © NOAA

market squid © NOAA

jack mackerel © CDFW

lingcod © NOAA

Pacific shortfin mako shark © NOAA

yellowtail rockfish© NOAA

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PELAGIC FINFISH

barracudas © CDFW

Northern anchovy © NOAA

dolphinfish © NOAA

Pacific herring © NOAA

jack mackerel © CDFW

salmon © NOAA

Pacific mackerel © NOAA

Pacific sardine © NOAA

blue shark © CDFW

Pacific shortfin mako shark © NOAA

thresher shark © CDFW

swordfish © NOAA

Pacific bonito © CDFW

yellowtail © CDFW

billfishes © CDFW

tunas © NOAA

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BIG OLD FERTILE FEMALE FISH (BOFFF)

Average numbers of young produced by three different sizes of vermillion rockfish.

Data: Love et al. (1990) NOAA Technical Report

Older, fatter females are much more important to reproduction than younger, smaller fish. This concept called BOFFF is key to why MPAs can and do work for replenishing our oceans.

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SPILLOVER: BENEFITS TO FISHERIES

One way that MPAs can support fisheries is through spillover.

Marine life can flourish inside MPAs, as the abundance increases inside the reserve, they will move outside the boundaries. This is called spillover.
The amount of spillover depends on the mobility of each species.
For example, bluefin tuna travel great distances throughout their lifetime.
While these more mobile species like tuna will move through protected areas, species with smaller home ranges such as lobster, California sheephead, or rockfish are likely to benefit from the protected area.
New studies are shedding more light on this concept, but we do know that through spillover, MPA benefits not only happen inside the boundaries, but can export benefits outside their boundaries.
Fishermen are well-aware of “fishing the line” which is the phrase that describes anglers fishing close to the boundaries of an MPA in order to reap the benefits of spillover, by catching more and larger fish.
Benefits from protection takes time to accrue.

In California, increases in abundance for many species are not likely to become detectable for at least 10 years after implementation.

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CALIFORNIA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREAS�(MPAs)

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STATE MARINE RESERVES (SMR)

STATE MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS (SMCA)

SPECIAL CLOSURES

Drakes Estero SMCA
Estero de Limantour SMR
Point Reyes SMR
Point Reyes Headlands Special Closure
Point Reyes SMCA
Point Resistance Rock Special Closure
Double Point/Stormy Stack Special Closure
Duxbury Reef SMCA
North Farallon Islands SMR
North Farallon Islands Special Closure
Southeast Farallon Island SMR
Southeast Farallon Island Special Closure
Southeast Farallon Island SMCA
Egg (Devil’s Slide) Rock Special Closure
Montara SMR
Pillar Point SMCA

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

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“Take” means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, fish, mollusks, or crustaceans or attempting to do so.

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SMR		Restrictions
Estero de Limantour, Point Reyes, North Farallon Islands, Southeast Farallon Island, & Montara SMRs		Take of all living marine resources, including shells and rocks, is prohibited.
Marine Protected Area		Allowable Take
Drakes Estero SMCA	Recreational take of clams. Commercial aquaculture of shellfish.
Point Reyes SMCA	Recreational and commercial take of salmon by trolling and Dungeness crab trap.
Duxbury Reef SMCA	Recreational take of abalone and finfish from shore only.
Southeast Farallon Island SMCA	Recreational and commercial take of salmon by trolling.
Pillar Point SMCA	Recreational take of Dungeness crab by trap, market squid by hand held dip net, and pelagic finfish by trolling. Commercial take of Dungeness crab by trap, market squid by round-haul net, and pelagic finfish by trolling or round-haul net.
Point Reyes Headlands, Point Resistance Rock, Double Point/Stormy Stack, North Farallon Islands, Southeast Farallon Island & Egg (Devil’s Slide) Rock Special Closures	Restrict boating and access. No person shall enter these areas. Additional restrictions related to: boating speed limits, anchoring, seasonal closure, commercial diving, operation exhaust procedures, and transit exist for North Farallon Islands, Southeast Farallon Island, and Egg (Devil’s Slide) Rock Special Closures.

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GREATER FARALLONES AND MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES

MBNMS stretches from SF to Cambria protecting an area size of Connecticut! Primarily protects from oil drilling
"Serengeti of the Sea”, dense kelp forests, rocky shores, estuaries and one of North America's largest underwater canyon
Greater Farallones NMS sits where a unique and powerful current runs north to south. This cold-water current creates one of the most spectacular & biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world
Key species in GFNMS: ashy storm petrel, blue whale, common murre, Dungeness crab, harbor seal, krill, Steller sea lion, tufted puffin, white shark

Greater Farallones

National Marine

Sanctuary

Greater Farallones

National Marine

Sanctuary

Cordell Bank

National Marine

Sanctuary

Monterey Bay

National Marine

Sanctuary

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary stretches from San Francisco to Cambria in San Luis Obispo County, protecting an area the size of Connecticut!
Designated in 1992, the main purpose was to inhibit oil drilling. While the sanctuary does not restrict fishing of any type, it does have “No drone zones” and areas where jet skis are not allowed.
Some call this area the "Serengeti of the Sea”, with dense kelp forests, rocky shores, estuaries, incredible biological diversity, and one of North America's largest underwater canyons.
Greater Farallones NMS sits where a unique and powerful current runs north to south. This cold-water current creates one of the most spectacular & biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world.
Key Species in GFNMS include: ashy storm petrel, blue whale, common murre, Dungeness crab, harbor seal, krill, Steller sea lion, tufted puffin, and white shark.

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POINT REYES MPAS�

Important nursery ground for Dungeness crabs, rockfish and flatfish
Fishing is closely regulated in the park, but is allowed on some park beaches and freshwater lakes and ponds
Fishing prohibited in Lagunitas Creek and all its tributaries including Olema and Bear Valley Creeks, in all inland freshwater streams in the park, in Estero de Limantor SMR and Point Reyes Headlands SMR

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DUXBURY REEF SMCA

Just off Highway 1- north of San Francisco
Largest shale reef
Popular tidepool spot, over 100 species
Recreational take of finfish from shore and abalone is allowed

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FARALLON ISLANDS MPAS

A failed settlement, as well as over 400 reported ship and aircraft wrecks portray the treacherous waters around the islands
Islands provide breeding and feeding grounds for over 25 endangered or threatened species
One of the most significant white shark populations in the world!
Take of salmon by troll is allowed in southeast Farallon Island SMCA
No take in SMRs

The Farallon Islands are named after the Spanish word Farallón which means “Rocky Pillar Jutting From the Sea.”
They were also nicknamed “The Devil’s Teeth” because of the many shipwrecks they caused in the 1800s. A failed settlement, as well as over 400 reported ship and aircraft wrecks portray the treacherous waters around the islands.
This special area is heavily protected because of the immense wildlife, from nesting birds to marine mammals, and one of the most significant white shark population in the world. The islands provide breeding and feeding grounds for over 25 endangered or threatened species.
The islands are protected by 2 SMRs, 1 SMCA and 2 Special Closures. There is no take allowed in Northern or Southern Farallon Island SMRs. Recreational and commercial take of salmon by troll is allowed in southeast Farallon Island SMCA.

MPAs of the Farallon Islands include:

North Farallon Islands SMR
North Farallon Islands Special Closure
Southeast Farallon Island SMR
Southeast Farallon Island Special Closure
Southeast Farallon Island SMCA

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EGG (DEVIL’S SLIDE) ROCK SPECIAL CLOSURE

Protect nesting birds - no entry within 300 feet
Brandt’s cormorant, pelagic cormorant, black oyster catcher, western gull, common murre, pigeon guillemot, brown pelican
Oil spill wiped out 3,000 common murres here in 1980’s
10 years later, biologists used decoys, mirrors, and sound recordings to lure birds back

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MONTARA SMR AND PILLAR POINT SMCA

Montara is of the most biodiverse regions of the California coast - no take in SMR
Harbor at Pillar Point vital commercial fishing, sport fishermen, and recreational boaters
Permitted take at Pillar Point includes recreational take of pelagic finfish by trolling, Dungeness crab by trap and market squid by hand-held dip net

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MARINE SPECIES OF INTEREST

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LOCAL FISH AND ELASMOBRANCH SPECIES

CDFW

@Trisha Fawver

HALIBUT

STURGEON

BAT RAY

STRIPED BASS

LEOPARD SHARK

LINGCOD

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LOCAL FISH SPECIES

CHINOOK SALMON

BLACK SURFPERCH

WHITE SEABASS

BLACK ROCKFISH

STARRY FLOUNDER

PACIFIC HERRING

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LOCAL INVERTEBRATE & MARINE ALGAE SPECIES

ABALONE

SEA LETTUCE

MARKET SQUID

OLYMPIA OYSTER

GOOSENECK BARNACLE

CALIFORNIA MUSSEL

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LOCAL BIRD SPECIES

GREAT BLUE HERON

PEREGRINE FALCON

OSPREY

Tufted Puffin

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER

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FISHING INFORMATION

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CALIFORNIA FISHING LICENSES

Purchase fishing licenses online here: wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Online-Sales
Fishing license required for everyone 16 years or older EXCEPT when fishing from public piers, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that form most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are also public piers
Sturgeon and California spiny lobster report cards are still required even if fishing from a pier
California typically has 2 free fishing days annually – usually around July 4^th and Labor Day weekends

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RECREATIONAL FISHING: PIER FISHING

Pier fishing locations:

Paradise Beach Fishing Pier
Torpedo Wharf
Berkeley Fishing Pier
San Leandro Fishing Platform

Port View Park
Oyster Point
Pacifica Fishing Pier
Half Moon Bay (Johnson’s Pier)

Some possible pier catches:

staghorn sculpin, surfperch, jacksmelt, flounder,

white croaker

IMPORTANT: No fishing license is required to fish from a public pier

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RECREATIONAL FISHING

Pacific halibut, striped bass, leopard shark, bat ray, trout and salmon, largemouth bass, sturgeon, and other species of rockfish commonly caught
Striper arrive in the spring, leave for the summer and return in the fall
Pacific halibut only come around in the summer months
Important nursery for leopard shark and bat rays, both species remain in the bay and are catchable year-round
Recreational fishing charters offered along harbors and piers

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SAN FRANCISCO BAY FISHING

Home to a variety of shark species:

leopard sharks, sevengill sharks, sixgill sharks, blue sharks, and smoothhound sharks

Sturgeon fishing is at Dumbarton Bridge

Migrate into the south bay in search of herring that spawn off of Alameda

Striped bass bite in San Francisco Bay off the Rockpile
San Pablo Bay popular for catching striped bass, white sturgeon, and leopard sharks

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FARALLON ISLANDS FISHING

Located about 30 miles off the coast of San Francisco
Silver Fox Sport Fishing & Tours offer charter fishing and shark tours
Popular fishing for groundfish
Anglers can often leave the islands with catch limits of rockfish and lingcod

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CHARTER FISHING

Reel Obsession Sportfishing
Lucky Six Sportfishing
Reel Time Charters, LLC
Bills Sportfishing and Guide Service
Topline Sport Fishing – Berkeley
Nautilus Excursions
SF Bay Sportfishing
Argo Sportfishing
Flash Sport Fishing Charters
Durban Princess Sport Fishing

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COMMERCIAL FISHING

San Francisco Bay is a working port for fishers
Dungeness crab and squid are now cash crops for state - Dungeness crab fleet fishes primarily in the fall
Salmon trawlers still line the harbor by Hyde Street Pier - king salmon throughout the summer and fall
El Nino weather pattern of 2016 moved squid purse seiners north to fish off of the Farallon islands and Pacifica Beach

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DUNGENESS CRABBING

Prime breeding area for Dungeness crabs - take within the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays is illegal
Outside of the bay, season lasts from November to July, with most crabs caught in early season
The prime recreational season first few weeks of November, when only sportfishing boats may legally catch crabs

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BOAT FISHING CHANGES WITH SEASONS

IMPORTANT: Check current regulations at: wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean

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BAROTRAUMA

WHAT TO DO

Anglers have options to help return rockfish to a depth where they can decompress themselves.
These descending devices, can be made at home or purchased commercially. There are many different types and models.

For more information, visit: wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Groundfish/Barotrauma

Barotrauma happens when fish are brought from the deep (more pressure) to surface (less pressure). The expansion of gas swells the swim bladder, causing a “pressure shock” that can cause organ damage.

The technique of “venting” or releasing gas within the swim bladder is discouraged.

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BOATING CLEAN AND GREEN

THINGS BOATERS CAN DO�

Prevent oily discharge from the bilge
Spill-proof your oil changes and fueling.
Do not add soap to the bilge.
Minimize boat cleaning and maintenance in the water.
Choose non- toxic bottom paints.
Dispose of hazardous waste properly.
Plan ahead! Manage sewage wastes properly.
Stow it, do not throw it!
Reduce grey water discharges.
Do not spread aquatic invasive species.
Clean, drain, and dry your boat.�

For more information, visit: BoatingCleanandGreen.com

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REPORT SARGASSUM HORNERI

Non-native brown seaweed from China, Korea, and Japan.
Arrived in southern CA in ports of LA early 2000s.
Recently recorded at Monterey Breakwater in June 2020.
Highly invasive – adults fragment easily and each can produce hundreds of fertile eggs in one receptacle (shown in yellow).
Help prevent spread, check vessel props & anchors before transiting!
If spotted, record the date and location and report to CDFW’s Invasive Species Program:

Call (866) 440-9530
Send an email to invasives@wildlife.ca.gov
Fill out the form at: wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Report

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CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE WEST COAST

Warming Ocean Temperatures:

Much of the northeast Pacific Ocean was warmer than normal from April 19 to July 18, 2020.
Effects most dramatic offshore between Hawaii and Alaska.

Atmospheric Pressure Changes:

High pressure over Gulf of Alaska, Low pressure in NE Pacific in summer of 2019: causes reduced winds

Why is this a concern?

Winds remove heat, mix the surface waters with cooler waters below

Consequence: rapid warming of surface waters in NE Pacific

Marine Heatwaves:

New marine heatwave off the West Coast in Sept, 2019
Researchers monitoring effects on the marine ecosystem, resembles “The Blob” heatwave of 2014.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-marine-heatwave-emerges-west-coast-resembles-blob

Climate has been changing on the west coast- how does this impact our ocean?

Some of the major features that have impacted our coast in recent years include:

Warming ocean temperatures. We have had warmer temperatures from Hawaii to Alaska for the past decade including 2020.
Second, for a few years prior to 2020, a large body of warm surface water, called the “BLOB” placed itself off the west coast south of Alaska, and off the coast of Oregon and Washington. This blob acted like a heatwave in the ocean with major impacts to species distributions, as well as catches of fish and crab.
Finally a high pressure over the Gulf of Alaska created reduced winds in the summer of 2019. The lack of wind is of concern since the winds push the warm surface waters offshore, so that cooler waters upwell, or rise to the surface. This upwelling is responsible for the incredibly productive coastal waters of the West Coast.

These recent changes are of concern to commercial fishermen and anglers as well as coastal communities and are being monitoring carefully.

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STRANGE FISH IN WEIRD PLACES

Recently an influx of warmer water off California has brought unprecedented sightings of marine organisms found outside their typical habitats and range. Larger predatory fish and bigger schools of fish are staying around later in the year. Non-native species not previously recorded in Monterey are now being spotted here. These new species have the potential to displace native species.

To understand the effect that changing oceanic conditions will have on fish and benthic invertebrate communities, the California Undersea Imagery Archive is initiating a crowd-sourcing effort called Strange Fish in Weird Places.
Relying on you and others on the water, they will document your observations of organisms in new and unusual places.
They are requesting any or all of the information below, with an emphasis on the location, depth and date that any imagery was collected:

Desired attribution for use of photo on website and outreach materials
Time and date
Species ID (lowest taxonomic level possible)
Depth (if collected via SCUBA or breath-hold diving)
Location (lat/long if possible, general location if not)

For questions or to report, please contact them at cuia@csumb.edu. They very much appreciate your contributions.

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HELP END MARINE ANIMAL ENTANGLEMENTS

Report lost or abandoned fishing gear at 1-888-491-GEAR or www.seadocsociety.org

They accept ANONYMOUS reports!

Properly Dispose of Fishing Gear

For monofilament and fluorocarbon line:

Recycle lines in designated bins found at most boat ramps, piers, and tackle shops

For non-monofilament line, such as braid or wire

Cut the line into 12-inch or smaller pieces and place into a covered trash can

For hooks and lures

Clip off sharp points to avoid injuring humans and wildlife and dispose of it in covered trash can

Abandoned fishing gear can remain in the ocean for up to 400 years and entangle and kill marine animals.

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If you see a sick or injured marine mammal, please do not approach!

The Marine Mammal Center 415-289-SEAL, for deceased animals call California Academy of Sciences: (415) 379-5381

There are a few ways we can make sure our eagerness to view marine wildlife doesn’t disturb them. Please:

Learn before you go. Check out the rules and regulations for the area you are visiting.
Keep your distance – if you see them change behavior or notice you, you are too close
Do not touch for any reason
Do not feed or attract them to you. Interactions with wildlife can change their normal behavior and feeding habits which can result in harm or death to the animal, despite our best intentions
Do not approach sick or abandoned wildlife. If you find a sick or wounded animal, do not approach it, instead call the Marine Mammal Center as soon as possible
Leave pets at home
Do not harass or chase wildlife
Pack your trash, and
Teach others around you to be responsible viewers. Our marine life thanks you!

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WHERE TO FIND REGULATIONS

How do you find information on fishing rules and regulations on the go? A few ways are available.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has a mobile website and an interactive map, listed above, that show MPA boundaries, regulations, and habitat information. While this website only works with internet access, you can check the rules before you head out to make sure you have the information you need for where you’re heading.
FishLegal is a mobile application that does not require internet or phone service. It has information on fish identification, fishing, and MPA boundaries. Get it here at http://fishlegal.info/ or in your cellphones App store.
You can also download maps from Navionics to your Garmin products in advance, to use on the water, but you must have preloaded them while you have access to the internet.
Please note that the FishLegal and Navionics applications are not sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, so you should always cross-check the information with CDFW to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

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GET INVOLVED

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CCRFP

California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) - partnership of people and communities interested in fisheries sustainability.

With help of volunteer anglers and fishing community, we collect data on economically important nearshore species to inform fisheries management and evaluate marine protected areas (MPAs).

If you want to contribute to research and learn more about nearshore fish stocks, become a volunteer angler!

For more information, visit: www.mlml.calstate.edu/ccfrp/

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USEFUL MOBILE APPLICATIONS

Seafood Watch

Monterey Bay Aquarium

CA Boating Facility Locator

CA State Parks Division of Boating Waterways

Pumpout Nav

Ecom Enterprises, Inc.

Boat US

Boat, weather, tides

CalTIP

CA Department of Fish and Wildlife

FishLegal

Maps & Species info

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1-888-334-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258)

Help stop poaching and polluting:

1-888-491-GEAR (4237)

Report lost fishing gear:

www. Boatingcleanandgreen.com

Learn about clean boating and how to recycle fishing line:

California Academy of Sciences (whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions and sea turtles): 1(415) 379-5381

Report Dead Marine Mammals:

Wildcare in San Rafael (415) 456-SAVE

Report Sick or Dead Seabirds:

visit www. SeabirdProtectionNetwork.org

Help Protect Seabirds:

www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/report

Reporting Invasive Species in California:

1(800) 367-8222

24 Hour Vessel Assistance (Fees Involved):

1-877-SOS-WHALE (1-877-767-9425) for distressed whales and dolphins

Statewide Whale Rescue Team

IMPORTANT REPORTING & RESPONSE NUMBERS

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THANK YOU