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SANTA CRUZ FISHING AND BOATING

A brief overview of opportunities on the water

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OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

Introduction to Santa Cruz
Science of marine conservation
Deep dive into local marine protected areas
Species you may encounter
Guide to fishing around Santa Cruz
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
and the 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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NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL HISTORY: 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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CHINESE FISHING CAMP: NEW BRIGHTON

Anglers of European descent felt threatened by skilled Chinese anglers in 1870s
Laws banned Chinese anglers
Before laws passed, several Chinese fishing villages in Monterey Bay
29 Chinese anglers lived in driftwood structure at base of high bluffs

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�

SAN JOSE

Monterey BAY

MONTEREY BAY AREA

Santa Cruz, Moss Landing and Monterey: Each characterized by mix of different fisheries reflect its history and define its niche today��Top fisheries were squid, salmon, sardine, mackerel, anchovy, groundfish, and sablefish��Santa Cruz typically has lower volume, but higher price fisheries that support local restaurants

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HARBORS, MARINAS, AND LAUNCH RAMPS

Santa Cruz Harbor

Separated into Lower and Upper Harbors
Bait and tackle nearby: Bayside Marine, West Marine, Outdoor World

Capitola Boat and Bait Marina

Bait and tackle at marina

Moss Landing Harbor

Bait and tackle nearby: Woodward Marine

1

2

3

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SANTA CRUZ HARBOR

T

Built in 1964, its current infrastructure supports small-scale fishing vessels and lower volume/higher value fisheries, such as chinook (king) salmon, Dungeness crab and albacore tuna

> 800 permanent slips for recreational, commercial, and research opportunities

For coastal mariners, the harbor is maintained as a year-round harbor of safe refuge

The harbor was created in large part to provide weather protection for Santa Cruz area commercial fishermen

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COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

BEACH SPORTS

©Rosa Laucci

©

©Rosa Laucci

TIDEPOOLING

HIKING

FISHING

WILDLIFE VIEWING

KAYAKING

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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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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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SANTA CRUZ COUNTY MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

STATE MARINE RESERVES (SMR)

STATE MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS (SMCA)

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
White sharks common
“Greyhound” rock made of ancient mudstone
Recreational fishing permitted here for market squid, salmon, giant kelp by hand, and other finfish by hook and line from shore only
Commercial fishing for giant kelp by hand, market squid, and salmon is allowed

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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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PORTUGUESE LEDGE SMCA �& SOQUEL CANYON SMCA

Both SMCAs allow recreational and commercial take of pelagic finfish
Soquel Canyon SMCA contains excellent fishing for pelagic finfish like tuna and bonito
Portuguese Ledge SMCA has greatest depth range of any MPA in CA: nearly 300 to 4,800 feet
Protects deep water rockfish species like greenspotted rockfish and chilipepper rockfish

Due west of Elkhorn Slough lies Soquel Canyon SMCA, which encompasses a side branch of the Monterey Submarine Canyon, one of the deepest submarine canyons on the West Coast of the United States.
These submarine canyons funnel nutrient-rich waters into Monterey Bay, supporting an array of marine wildlife.
Portuguese Ledge and Soquel Canyon SMCAs allow recreation and commercial take of pelagic finfish.

These are unique and biologically productive areas, especially for many groundfish species like rockfish.

Soquel Canyon SMCA contains excellent fishing of pelagic finfishes, like tuna and bonito.
Portuguese Ledge SMCA has the greatest depth range of any in California, from nearly 300 to 4,800 feet.
Both MPAs are designed to protect deep-water habitats of overfished rockfish by not allowing bottom gear, in an effort to support statewide rockfish recovery efforts.

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

Elkhorn Slough & Moro Cojo Slough SMRs do not allow any take

Fishing at Kirby Park is not allowed

Elkhorn Slough SMCA allows recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line from shore only and clams from north shore of slough is allowed
Estuaries provide vital habitat for bat rays, leopard sharks, and top smelt; invertebrates, including ghost shrimp, oysters and moon snails
Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing Harbor support thriving economies in tourism, commercial fishing, and coastal research

There are two MPAs at Elkhorn Slough, a State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and a no-take State Marine Reserve (SMR), and one no-take State Marine Reserve to the south at Moro Cojo Slough. This area is also a National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Estuaries such as Elkhorn and Moro Cojo provide vital habitat for bat rays, leopard sharks, and top smelt as well as invertebrates, including ghost shrimp, oysters and moon snails.
Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing Harbor support thriving economies in tourism, commercial fishing, and coastal research.
A large part of Elkhorn Slough is a State Marine Reserve, which is closed to all fishing to protect important nursery habitat. Fishing at Kirby Park is not allowed.
Elkhorn Slough State Marine Conservation Area allows the recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line from shore only and clams from the north shore of the slough.
Just to the south is Moro Cojo Slough SMR, a very shallow brackish remnant of a larger slough. It is highly degraded and surrounded by coastal prairie and bounded by Highway 1 to the west.

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MARINE SPECIES OF INTEREST

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LOCAL FISH SPECIES

KELP GREENLING

CABEZON

LINGCOD

RAINBOW SURFPERCH

KING SALMON

HALIBUT

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LOCAL ROCKFISH SPECIES

YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH

VERMILLION ROCKFISH

BLUE ROCKFISH

COPPER ROCKFISH

BLACK & YELLOW ROCKFISH

CDFW

GOPHER ROCKFISH

Over 90 species of rockfish, which are part of the larger group of fish known as groundfish, can be found living on or near the bottom of the ocean in Monterey County.
These are some of the more commonly encountered rockfish in the Santa Cruz area.
Rockfish eat a diversity of prey including pelagic shrimp and crab, anchovies, sardines, and other small rockfishes and squid.
Many rockfish can live hundreds of years.
China rockfish have blotchy dark blue or black body crossed by a patchy but obvious yellow stripe. The black and yellow rockfish is similar in appearance, but the China has this continuous yellow band.
Copper rockfish are also common, and the larger a female is the more young she will bear. They give birth to live young after carrying their eggs for 10 months.
For these reasons, MPAs take time for protection benefits to accrue.

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LOCAL INVERTEBRATE SPECIES

DUNGENESS CRAB

MOON SNAILS

MARKET SQUID

ROUGH LIMPET

CALIFORNIA MUSSELS

PINK VOLCANO BARNACLE

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LOCAL MARINE ALGAE SPECIES

TURKISH WASHCLOTH

SEA LETTUCE

SEA PALM

GIANT KELP

SEA GRAPES

BULL KELP

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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

Locations:

Santa Cruz Wharf (pictured)
Capitola Wharf
Seacliff Wharf (Aptos)

Some possible pier catches:

Surfperch, Pacific mackerel, jacksmelt, and sculpin

IMPORTANT: A fishing license is NOT required on a public pier in Santa Cruz county.

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RECREATIONAL FISHING: SHORE FISHING

Popular shore fishing locations (a few):

West Cliff Drive
Manresa Beach
Rio Del Mar Beach
Seacliff Beach
Seabright Beach

Shore fishing in Santa Cruz County requires a fishing license.

Tips for shore fishing:

Cast in the early morning or after dusk, and on incoming tides
Mild-moderate surf conditions are best
Fish the edges of sand bars and drop-offs

Some possible shore catches:

surfperches, croakers, California corbina, and California halibut

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RECREATIONAL FISHING: CHARTERS

Deep sea charters are popular in Santa Cruz
One day fishing licenses are usually available
Charters depart from Moss Landing, Capitola, and Santa Cruz
Catches typically include rockfish, lingcod, salmon, and halibut

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COMMERCIAL FISHING

Commercial fishing based out of Santa Cruz Harbor
Established in 1964, mostly small fishing vessels
King salmon, albacore tuna, and Dungeness crab are primary fisheries
Nicknamed “pink fish” port

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CHINOOK SALMON FISHERY

“King Salmon”
Monterey Bay is full of chinook salmon’s prey: anchovies, sardines, herring, and squid
Peak season: May-Sept.
Charters are popular for salmon fishing in Santa Cruz
Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project releases salmon into the bay to mitigate loss of species

Supports commercial fisheries

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ROCKFISH AND�LINGCOD FISHERIES

Year-round fishery, type of rockfish depends on time of year
Kayak fishing popular to reach rocky bottoms habitats
Limits vary according to rockfish species, check CDFW website for more info
Recommended bait: anchovies, sardines, squid pieces
Release back to depth to avoid barotrauma

©Nicholas D.

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SURFPERCH FISHERY

Year-round fishery
Certain species prefer different habitats

Sandy beaches: barred and walleye surfperch
Rocky bottoms: black perch

Santa Cruz pier popular spot to catch a variety
Suggested bait: pile worms, mussels, ghost shrimp

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BOAT FISHING CHANGES WITH SEASONS

WILL MAKE EXCEL SPREADSHEET OF FISHING SEASONS HERE

Month	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Salmon	Poor	Poor	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Poor	Poor
Perch	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
CA Halibut	Good	Good	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Good	Good	Good
Rockfish	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
Lingcod	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Poor

Keep in mind, regulations vary by year and season, there may be closures on specific fisheries depending on the year

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!

Call the Marine Mammal Center: 415-289-SEAL

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 and Waterways

Pumpout Nav

CA State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways

.

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), DOWNLOAD THE APP CALTIPS

Help stop poaching and polluting:

(831) 646-3950 Day / 594-7760 Evening "After hours"

Local Harbor Patrol

1-800-OILS-911

Report Oil Spills

Injured: The Marine Mammal Center: 415-289-SEAL
Dead: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories: 1 (831) 755-8650

Report Dead or Sick Marine Mammals:

Native Animal Rescue 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

IMPORTANT REPORTING & RESPONSE NUMBERS

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THANK YOU�