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SANTA CRUZ OPPORTUNITIES ON THE WATER

An Overview of Santa Cruz County

Marine Protected Areas

Your local on the water playground�

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OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Science of marine conservation
Deep dive into local marine protected areas (MPAs)
Species you may encounter
Wildlife etiquette
Local engagement with your coast

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WELCOME TO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

The county is home to 2 MPAs:

Greyhound Rock SMCA
Natural Bridges SMR
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve

Neighboring counties include an additional 6 MPAs:

3 SMRs
3 SMCAs

Insert map here

YOU ARE

HERE!

Monterey Bay

NMS

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NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL HISTORY: OHLONE PEOPLE

Ohlone territory ranged from San Francisco to Point Sur and inland
Historically relied on abundant marine resources in Monterey Bay including abalone, urchins, limpets, seaweeds and marine mammal furs

Gathered mussels, clams, and oysters and hunted rays and fish from mudflats in Elkhorn Slough

Ohlone had many tribes throughout CA

Spanish people grouped them together, actually separate tribes with different languages

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.
Santa Cruz County is within the historical range of Ohlone peoples, which extended from San Francisco to Point Sur. Although historically viewed as one tribe because the Spanish people grouped them as such, this is inaccurate. The group referred to as the Ohlone People are actually different tribes, who even speak different languages and live throughout Northern California.
As hunter-gatherers with easy access to the sea, these indigenous peoples hunted marine mammals like sea otters, sea lions and northern fur seals and collected abalone, urchins, limpets, and seaweeds in rocky intertidal areas. They also gathered mussels, clams, and oysters from the mudflats and hunted rays and fish in Elkhorn Slough.

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AMAH MUTSUN

Originally: 20-30 contiguous villages stretching across Pajaro River Basin
Villages united by shared cultural practices and tribal traditions
Varied religious practices, methods of fishing and hunting, ceremonial dress, craftmanship and shelter
Today: active community of nearly 600 members
Each member can trace individual descent directly to a Mission Santa Cruz Indigenous person

The Amah Mutsun are an area tribe of originally 20-30 contiguous villages stretching across the Pajaro River Basin.
The villages were united by shared cultural practices and tribal traditions.
They utilized and tended both inland and marine resources. Important coastal sites included Kallentaruk, meaning 'house by the sea', near present-day Moss Landing, and Tiuvta, meaning 'the place of the elk' near present-day Watsonville.
Mutual religious practices, methods of fishing and hunting, ceremonial dress, craftmanship and shelter set them apart from the Salinan and Esselen peoples.
Today they are an active community of nearly 600 members, each of whom can trace their individual descent directly to a Mission Santa Cruz Indian or Mission San Juan Batista Indian. They are the founding members of the Tribal Marine Stewards Network and host an annual Coastal Stewardship Summer Camp for youth. The photo shows a tribal youth participating in the annual Coastal Stewardship Camp.

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WELCOME TO SANTA CRUZ

Indigenous tribes inhabited area for thousands of years
1769: Don Gaspar de Portola arrived
1900’s: logging, lime processing, agriculture, & commercial fishing
75-100 boats unloading salmon, sea bass, rock cod, and sole every day
Redwoods projected to last 200 years but lasted less than 50

trees converted into homes, telephone poles, railroad ties

Wharf never revived as seaport

Now base for fishing

Indigenous tribes inhabited California for thousands of years before European explorers reached the area.
Santa Cruz was discovered by the Spanish soldier and administrator, Don Gaspar de Portola in 1769.
The Santa Cruz Mission was founded in this area in 1791. During the early 20^th century, logging, lime processing, agriculture and commercial fishing became the boom of the economy, in large part due to the ocean’s bounty.
In its heyday, the Santa Cruz wharf bustled with more than 100 commercial vessels unloading salmon, sea bass and rockfish.
Prospectors thought the redwood trees in the area would last for over 200 years, but only remnants remained within a short 50-year span. The majestic trees were turned into telephone poles, homes, and railroad ties.
The Municipal wharf was built to open access to the Pacific Ocean. In 1914 it was unveiled but it never met the dreams of reviving the economy or putting the town on the charts as a major seaport. By the time it opened rail had replaced the major mode of sea transportation. Instead, fishermen from Portugal and Italy took over businesses one wharf and promoted fishing products and seafood.

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CULTURAL HISTORY

1770

First Spanish Mission Built

1890’s

Japanese fishermen arrive

1900’s

Italian fishermen arrive

1850’s

Portuguese whalers and Chinese Fishermen arrive

~8,000

Area settled by Indigenous Tribes

As previously discussed, Indigenous tribes have been living in the Santa Cruz area for thousands of years.
The Santa Cruz mission was founded in 1770 C.E. As with the other California missions, Mission Santa Cruz served as the location where native conversion to Catholicism occurred, starting with the Amah Mutsun.
The Spanish called them Costanoan people. After Mexican Independence from Spain, the Mission became secularized and was the hub of life in Santa Cruz.
By the 1840’s the Gold Rush led to white prospectors flooding Santa Cruz in search of riches. Chinese laborers were brought into the area to build railroads and work agricultural fields, but they soon turned to the ocean as skilled fishermen.
European fishermen from Portugal and Italy felt they were in direct competition with the Chinese anglers, and the Chinese Exclusion Law of 1882 was the first immigration law in the U.S. It targeted the Chinese and restricted them from entering the country.
Portuguese whalers, Japanese and Italian fishermen all flooded to Santa Cruz in the hopes of reaping the bounty of the Pacific Ocean.

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COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

©Rosa Laucci

Explore tidepools in:

Natural Bridges SMR (take prohibited)
Greyhound Rock SMCA
West Cliff Drive
Davenport Landing Beach
Santa Maria Beach

©

©Al Case

©Rosa Laucci

TIDEPOOLING

HIKING

FISHING

Popular places to walk and hike:

West Cliff Drive
Wilder Ranch State Park
Natural Bridges SMR
Mitchell’s Cove Beach
Capitola City Beach
New Brighton State Beach

Certain take is allowed in:

Greyhound Rock SMCA
Soquel Canyon SMCA
Santa Cruz Wharf
Capitola Wharf
Manresa Beach
Portuguese Ledge SMCA

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COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

SURFING

©Rosa Laucci

©

©Al Case

KAYAKING

©Rosa Laucci

WILDLIFE VIEWING

Popular surfing locations:

Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve
Steamer Lane
Cowell Beach
Natural Bridges SMR
Pleasure Point
Capitola
30th and East Cliff

Wildlife watching is popular at:

Año Nuevo SMR (Elephant seals)
Monterey Bay NMS (Whales)
West Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz Harbor

Go kayaking in:

Natural Bridges SMR
Greyhound Rock SMCA
Santa Cruz Harbor
Twin Lakes Beach

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COASTAL ACCESS POINTS: �NORTHERN SANTA CRUZ

Año Nuevo State Park
Cove Beach
Rancho Del Oso-Big Basin State Park/Waddell Beach
Greyhound Rock Beach Access
China Ladder Beach
Scott Creek Beach
Davenport Landing Beach Access
Davenport Beach
Bonny Doon Beach
Red, White, and Blue Beach
Four Mile Beach
Three Mile Beach
Wilder Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach
Mitchell's Cove Beach
Lighthouse Field State Beach/Its Beach

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COASTAL ACCESS POINTS: �SOUTHERN SANTA CRUZ

West Cliff Drive
Steamer Lane
Cowell Beach
Santa Cruz Wharf
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Seabright State Beach
Santa Cruz Harbor/Santa Cruz Harbor Beach
Twin Lakes State Beach
Pleasure Point Beach
Cliff Beach
Private’s Beach
Capitola Beach
New Brighton State Beach
Seacliff State Beach
Rio Del Mar State Beach
Manresa State Beach

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CAMPGROUNDS

Castle Rock State Park Campground
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Campground
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
New Brighton State Beach Campground
Seacliff State Beach Campground
Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA
Manresa State Beach-Uplands Campground
Sunset State Beach Campground

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SANTA CRUZ BOARDWALK

Built in 1904 by Fred Swanton
Beachside amusement park on 1 mile of sandy beach. Family-fun, most popular in the summer
Free admission
40+ rides and attractions, 2 are National Historic Landmarks

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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

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.) Elkhorn Slough SMCA & SMR serves as vital habitat for species like bat rays, leopard sharks, and top smelt

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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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MPAS PROTECT A VARIETY OF HABITATS

SOFT-OCEAN BOTTOMS

SUBMARINE CANYONS

KELP FORESTS

INTERTIDAL

ESTUARIES

ROCKY REEFS

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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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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CALIFORNIA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREAS�(MPAs)

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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN AND NEAR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

STATE MARINE RESERVES (SMR)

STATE MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS (SMCA)

MPAs

Año Nuevo SMR
Natural Bridges SMR*
Elkhorn Slough SMR
Moro Cojo Slough SMR
Greyhound Rock SMCA*
Soquel Canyon SMCA
Portuguese Ledge SMCA
Elkhorn Slough SMCA

*Inside Santa Cruz County

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

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SMR	Restrictions
Año Nuevo, Natural Bridges, Elkhorn Slough, and Moro Cojo Slough SMRs	Take of all living marine resources, including shells and rocks, is prohibited.
SMCA	Allowable Take
Greyhound Rock SMCA	Recreational and commercial take of salmon and squid, and giant kelp by hand is allowed. Recreational take of other finfish by hook-and-line from shore only is allowed.
Soquel Canyon and Portuguese Ledge SMCAs	Recreational and commercial take of pelagic finfish is allowed.
Elkhorn Slough SMCA	Recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line only, and clams from the slough’s north shore near the Moss Landing State Wildlife Area, is allowed.

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MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

Stretches from San Francisco to Cambria, protecting an area size of Connecticut!
Established in 1992.
"Serengeti of the Sea”; dense kelp forests, rocky shores, estuaries and one of North America's largest underwater canyons.
Primarily protects from oil drilling.
“No drone zones” present from Pescadero Point to Santa Cruz, Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing, and from mouth of Carmel River south to Cambria.

Monterey Bay

National Marine

Sanctuary

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SANTA CRUZ WORLD SURFING RESERVE

Natural Bridges State Park to Opal Cliffs, 7 miles total
23 consistent surf breaks
Some breaks easy for beginners, others more advanced
First documented surf session in N. America in 1885
Surf schools and competitions
Now many surfers dedicated to conservation

The Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve stretches from Natural Bridges to Opal Cliffs, covering 7 miles total.
Designated in 2011, it features an impressive 23 consistent surf breaks, even including world-class areas such as Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point. The consistent breaks are of varying difficulties, providing a plethora opportunities for surfers of all levels.
In fact, the area was the location of the first board surfing in 1885 at the “Rivermouth,” and is regarded as the birthplace of surfing throughout North America. The first surf session in this area occurred when three Hawaiian princes visited the area and used surfboards made of the local redwood trees.
Nowadays, the area remains a huge hub for surfers, featuring many surf schools and competitions. Additionally, many of the surfers now have dedicated their time to conserving this precious coastline.

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AÑO NUEVO SMR

Largest mainland breeding colony of elephant seals in world
Trail: wetlands and march tumble into sandy beaches, rocky intertidal, dense kelp forests, and surfgrass
Deep rocky bottom depths to 175 feet
Tip of California’s “red triangle”- high white shark population
No-take allowed

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GREYHOUND ROCK SMCA

Popular recreational fishing area north of Swanton
Recreational fishing access without need of boat
“Greyhound” rock made of ancient mudstone

Climb up rock for views of shoreline

White sharks common
Migrating grey whales

©National Archives

©Anita Ritenour

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NATURAL BRIDGES SMR

Adjacent to Natural Bridges State Beach and Wilder Ranch State Park
Field trips to fantastic tidepools
Fun surf break on shore
No-take allowed

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SOQUEL CANYON SMCA�& PORTUGUESE LEDGE SMCA

Soquel Canyon SMCA is part of Monterey Submarine Canyon - unique and biologically productive habitat.
Ideal deepwater habitat for rockfish.
Important seabird foraging ground and whale feeding area.
Portuguese Ledge SMCA has the greatest depth range of any MPA in CA: 300 to 4,800 feet.
Portuguese Ledge SMCA is designed to protect deep-water habitat to support the recovery of overfished rockfish species.

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ELKHORN SLOUGH SMCA, ELKHORN SLOUGH SMR �& MORO COJO SLOUGH SMR

Elkhorn Slough is one of largest salt marshes in CA, 2^nd in size to San Francisco Bay.
Elkhorn Slough & watershed are home to ~340 bird species, 550 invertebrate species, 100 fish species, 60 mammal species, 20 reptile species, and 10 amphibian species.
Home to Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
To the south, Moro Cojo Slough SMR protects estuarine area.

Elkhorn Slough is the 2^nd largest estuary in size to the San Francisco salt marsh.
Elkhorn Slough SMR and SMCA combined protect nearly three-square miles and protects tidal flats, marshes, eelgrass beds, and beaches.
The slough offers critical habitat and is home to more than 340 bird species, 550 invertebrate species, 100 fish, 60 mammals, 20 reptiles and 10 amphibian species. White-tailed kites, Caspian terns, and American pelicans are special sights for birders.
The area is also home to the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, managed by CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The area is special for wildlife lovers, and visitors are certain to experience stunning scenery, calm protected waters for kayaking, and many birds and marine mammals.
Moro Cojo Slough SMR provides complete protection for one of the few estuarine areas of the central coast. This secluded area lies between Highway 1 Bridge and the crossing of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks.

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LOCAL MARINE SPECIES

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LOCAL FISH SPECIES

KELP GREENLING

CABEZON

LINGCOD

CALICO BASS

HALIBUT

COMMON MOLA

Under the surface are a wide variety of fishes.

Snorkeling along the rocky cliffs of Santa Cruz you will be certain to see fish like kelp greenling, cabezon and lingcod.
If you happen to get on a whale watching trip, you may be fortunate to see an ocean sunfish or common mola. These are one of the heaviest known bony fishes in the world. Adults can weigh between 545–2,205lbs and females of the species produce up to 300,000,000 at a time, more than any other vertebrate.
Halibut are masters at camouflage and work hard to become so. The fish are symmetrical at birth with one eye on each side of the head. In six months time, a metamorphosis occurs, where one eye migrates to the other side of the head. The side left without the eye lightens in color, to achieve the perfect “countershading”. They are now hidden from above (blending with the ocean floor) and from below (blending into the light from the sky).
Calico bass are found swimming around the kelp forests, thus giving them the common name “kelp bass.”

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LOCAL INVERTEBRATE SPECIES

STRIPED SHORE CRAB

MOON SNAILS

MARKET SQUID

OCHRE SEA STAR

CALIFORNIA MUSSELS

SUNBURST ANENOME

©christinebrew

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LOCAL MARINE ALGAE SPECIES

TURKISH TOWEL

FEATHER BOA KELP

SEA PALM

GIANT KELP

SEA GRAPES (RED ALGAE)

BULL KELP

Marine algae come in different size, shapes and purposes and serve special functions for marine life.

The Turkish washcloth or towel ranges from Alaska to Baja, with a main red stalk down the middle.
The feather boa is actually a kelp species, that lives in shallow intertidal zones.
Giant Kelp has fronds growing all along the sides of the stem from the bottom of the seafloor to the surface. This creates habitat at every depth from the surface to the seafloor.
In contrast, the bull kelp has fronds only at the surface near the bulbous structure called a pneumatocyst that is buoyant. The gas in a bull kelp’s pneumatocyst is up to 10 percent carbon monoxide — a byproduct of photosynthesis. Some call bull kelp the “mermaid’s bladder’. The pneumatocysts of both these kelps helps to fronts reach the sunlight in order to photosynthesize.

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LOCAL MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES

NORTHEN ELEPHANT SEAL

ORCA

HUMPBACK WHALE

SEA OTTER

CALIFORNIA SEA LION

HARBOR SEAL

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LOCAL BIRD SPECIES

WESTERN GULL

SURF SCOOTER

SANDERLING

KILLDEER

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER

WILLET

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ENVIRONMENTAL�ETIQUETTE

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

Call Moss Landing Marine Lab: (831) 755-8650

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 Moss Landing Marine Lab 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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TIDEPOOLING ETIQUETTE

Keep an eye on the water. Never turn your back to the ocean.

Be aware of your surroundings, including water and waves, slippery rocks or algae, and tidepool creatures.

Step carefully. Avoid crushing animals, algae, and plants whenever possible.

Be gentle. Always touch lightly so you don’t disturb intertidal life.

Leave them. Take only pictures and return the animals, algae, plants, rocks, and shells to where you found them.

Remove trash. Pick it up and dispose of it in waste bins.

Avoid wading in tidepools

Give marine mammals space. Remain 50 yards away from them.

©Coastal Monument

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BE SEABIRD SAFE

Stay on trails – view from a distance.
If you see seabirds acting nervously (head bobbing, fluttering, or flying away), you are too close - back away.
Pack out your trash, recycle plastics.
Do not feed seabirds.
Never dump oil, fuel, or other foreign substances into the water or drains.
To learn more, visit: SeabirdProtectionNetwork.org
To report a dead or injured seabird, contact Native Animal Rescue of Santa Cruz- 831-462-0726 www.nativeanimalrescue.org

©Coastal Monument

Santa Cruz is an important area for seabirds, but a few easy steps can help keep them safe. Approaching too close to seabird colonies causes birds to panic and fly away, potentially abandoning their nests. Abandoned nests leave eggs or chicks exposed to predators. In some cases, disturbances can cause complete breeding failure of a seabird colony, in which no chicks survive.

You can help protect seabirds by following these tips:

Stay on the trail at all times to avoid damaging underground nests.
If you see wildlife acting nervously you are too close; slowly back away and leave the area.
Pack out your trash.
Do Not Feed Wildlife.
Bring binoculars to enjoy watching seabirds from a safe distance.
You can help protect seabirds by raising your awareness of seabirds and gaining a greater understanding of the places they go and the food they eat.

Please report dead or injured seabirds to the Native Animal rescue of Santa Cruz. Here are the contacts for you.

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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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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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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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GET INVOLVED

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SEA OTTER SAVVY

Community Science Team – collects data on sea otter behavior and disturbance
Outreach – Help share information about sea otters and responsible wildlife viewing
Help certify Sea Otter Savvy businesses!

Join the raft!

https://www.seaottersavvy.org/volunteer

Or email gena@seaottersavvy.org

SOUTHERN SEA OTTER FUN FACTS�Sea otters live 15-20 years�Mature females have 1 pup per year�Gestation period: 6 months

Live with mom for 6 months

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Founded in 1904- Mission “Connecting People with Nature and Science to Inspire Stewardship of Natural World”
Houses exhibits to educate visitors on global awareness, celebrating diversity, and collaboration
Hosts interactive nature and science programming for school groups and the public.
Collection of >16,000 specimen/artifacts
Founding collection from 1900’s, collected by lighthouse keeper Laura Hecox

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SANTA CRUZ JUNIOR GUARDS

Three beach programs offered at Manresa, Rio Del Mar & Twin Lakes State Beaches
Promotes teamwork, leadership, aquatic safety and environmental awareness
CPR skills, first aid & rescue techniques
Exercise & physical conditioning

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SEYMOUR MARINE DISCOVERY CENTER

Science Sunday
Labside Chats
Distance Learning Program
Field Trips
School Programs
Summer Camps
Come visit: https://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/visit/

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CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS - SANTA CRUZ DISTRICT

Volunteers trained to conduct interpretation at tide pools, visitor centers, and throughout parks
Get involved as a volunteer
Contact: Ashley.Wemp@parks.ca.gov
Become a junior ranger!

Photo credit: Seacliff SB

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All volunteer chapter
Success in getting Cowells off Heal the Bay

poorest water quality in state beaches list

Blue Water Task Force

water quality testing

Beach Cleanups
Ocean Friendly Gardens

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SAVE OUR SHORES

Beach Cleanups- join as a volunteer!
Engage students in marine science and conservation.
Waves & Wildlife - amateur photo and video contest highlighting MPAs.

To learn more, visit saveourshores.org

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Dive with a Purpose!

Join us today!

Want to get your fins wet, make a difference, enjoy diving with others and collect invaluable long-term data?

These data are used by marine managers, researchers and the public for the sustainable management of our ocean resources

Photo: Andrew Harmer

We train citizen scientists to collect data, on the health of their local reefs

Reef Check helps ensure the long-term sustainability and health of California’s nearshore rocky reefs and kelp forests

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One of the world’s most popular nature apps.

iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you.

Get connected with a community of over a million scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature!

By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.

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SNAPSHOT CAL COAST

Annual statewide effort to document coastal biodiversity.

Get out on the coast and share observation of plants, animals, and seaweeds using iNaturalist app.

Your chance to help build an annual snapshot of biodiversity along the California coast.

Become a part of community of observers and recorders answering questions about California’s MPAs.

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CCRFP

California Collaborative Fisheries

Research Program

A 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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MPA WATCH

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1-888-334-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258), DOWNLOAD THE APP CALTIPS

Help stop poaching and polluting:

(831) 831-975-6161

Local Harbor Patrol

1-800-OILS-911

Report Oil Spills

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions and sea turtles): 1 (831) 755-8650 or UCSC Long Marine Lab 831-212-1272

Report Dead Marine Mammals:

Native Animal rescue of Santa Cruz 831-462-0726

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 Towboat – Santa Cruz 831-359-0702

24 Hour Vessel Assistance (Fees Involved):

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

Statewide Whale Rescue Team

NorthCoast Marine Mammal Center

IMPORTANT REPORTING & RESPONSE NUMBERS

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USEFUL MOBILE APPS

iNaturalist

iNaturalist, LLC

Identify plants and animals around you and record your observations

CalTIP

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)

Submit anonymous tips to CDFW

Your Coast

California Coastal Commission

Explore beaches, trails and parks along the California coast

Seafood Watch

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Provides recommendations for sustainable seafood and sushi

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THANK YOU