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An Overview of Orange County Marine Protected Areas��Your local on the water playground

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OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

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

©California Sea Grant

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WELCOME TO ORANGE COUNTY

YOU ARE

HERE!

The county is home to 7 MPAs:

2 SMCA (No-Take) (No-take State Marine Conservation Area) = purple
1 SMR (State Marine Reserves) = red
4 SMCAs (State Marine Conservation Area) = blue

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NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL HISTORY

The Acjachemen

Southern Orange County, Long Beach, and Northern San Diego County
Used the coastline to fish for a variety of shellfish, eel, and trout
Emphasized the land being sacred

@Archives Historical Society

Photo of the tribes of OC

©Paul VanDerWerf

Tongva

Historical lands in LA and Orange Counties
Fishing with canoes, tule reed boats, hooks, lines, and nets (made of sea grass)

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ALLURING COAST

Once a commercial fishing hub Now: sportfishing hub
The (now-decimated) kelp forest supported vast marine life
Diverse terrain: rocky cliffs, sandy shores, estuaries, intertidal zones and more
Whales, dolphins, seals, and hundreds of species of fish migrate through annually

©julieanh

The terrain in Orange County is another important piece of what makes the area an “alluring coast,” with rocky cliffs, sandy shores, estuaries, intertidal zones, and more.

The abundance of marine life adds to this beauty of the coast, featuring many whales, dolphins, seals and hundreds of species of fish migrating through the area.
Historically, what made Orange County coastlines so special was the kelp forest. The local kelp forests have been severely decimated since the 1980’s (90% loss) and many organizations are working to replenish the kelp forest and encourage growth in shrinking fish populations
The coast attracts many anglers and boaters, and commercial fishing was once an important part of the economy in the area. Nowadays, the county mainly attracts people interested in sportfishing.

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COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

©Rosa Laucci

©

©Hyperflange Industries

©Rosa Laucci

TIDEPOOLING

RECREATIONAL FISHING

SURFING

©Troy Williams

©Theo Crazzolara

Fishing is popular at:

Huntington Beach
Dana Point
Newport Beach
Seal Beach
Balboa Pier
San Clemente Pier
Deep fishing charters

Catch a wave at:

Huntington Beach
San Clemente Beach
Newport Beach
Laguna Beach
Upper West Newport (54th Street, 36th Street, Blackies, and the Newport Point)

Places to tidepool include:

Crystal Cove State Beach
Corona Del Mar State Beach
Shaw’s Cove (Laguna Beach)
Dana Point
Crescent Bay Beach
Rockpile Beach
Treasure Island Beach

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COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

BEACH SPORTS

©

KAYAKING

©Rosa Laucci

WILDLIFE VIEWING

©Keith Walbolt

©Rakkhi Samarasekera

Enjoy a day at the beach:

Huntington Beach
Dana Point
Newport Beach
Seal Beach
Laguna Beach
San Clemente

See wildlife at:

Dana Point
Newport Beach
Seal Beach
San Clemente

Popular places to kayak include:

Laguna Beach
Balboa Beach
Newport Beach
Seal Beach
San Clemente

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COASTAL ACCESS POINTS

Seal Beach
Surfside Beach
Sunset Beach
Bolsa Chica State Beach
Huntington City Beach
Huntington State Beach
Newport Beach
Balboa Beach
China Cove Beach
Corona del Mar State Beach
Little Corona del Mar Beach
Crystal Cove State Park
Main Beach
Aliso Beach
Table Rock Beach
Thousand Steps Beach
Salt Creek State Beach Park
Doheny State Beach
Capistrano Beach

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COASTAL CAMPGROUNDS

Bolsa Chica State Beach
Huntington City Beach
Newport Dunes Resort
Crystal Cove State Park
Doheny State Beach

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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.

PHOTO

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.) Upper Newport Bay SMCA protects nurseries for sand bass and halibut

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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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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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ORANGE COUNTY MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

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

Bolsa Bay SMCA
Bolsa Chica Basin No-Take SMCA
Upper Newport Bay SMCA
Crystal Cove SMCA
Laguna Beach SMR
Laguna Beach No-Take SMCA
Dana Point SMCA

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STATE MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS (SMCA)

NO-TAKE STATE MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS (NO-TAKE SMCA)

STATE MARINE RESERVES (SMR)

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SMR	Restrictions
Laguna Beach SMR	Take of all marine resources, including shells and rocks, is prohibited
SMCAs	Allowable take
Bolsa Bay SMCA	The recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line from shore in designated areas only is allowed
Bolsa Chica Basic SMCA (No-Take) and Laguna Beach SMCA (No-Take)	It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource. Take incidental to certain permitted activities may be allowed. Other restrictions may apply. See CCR T14 §632(b) for details.
Upper Newport Bay SMCA	The recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line from shore in designated areas only is allowed
Crystal Cove SMCA	The recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line from shore in designated areas only is allowed
Dana Point SMCA	The recreational take of finfish by hook-and-line or by spearfishing, and take of spiny lobster and sea urchin is allowed. The commercial take of sea urchin, spiny lobster by trap, and coastal pelagic species by round haul net, brail gear, and light boat is allowed�*limits apply

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BOLSA BAY SMCA & BOLSA CHICA BASIN SMCA (NO-TAKE)

Located within the 1,200 acre Bolsa Chica Wetlands, one of the largest remaining saltwater marshes in Southern California

Ample bird watching opportunities

Tidal saltmarsh habitat serves as a critical nursery area for juvenile fish

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UPPER NEWPORT BAY SMCA

Rare upland, lagoon system: 1.28 miles of estuary and wetlands
200 species of birds, including many endangered species
Mudflats are rich with worms, clams, and marine invertebrates
Important feeding and/or breeding site for 80+ species of fish, mammals, and birds

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Adjacent to Crystal Cove State Park
Popular with beachgoers, whale watchers, anglers, scuba and free divers
At low tide, tidepools are exposed
Offshore, the rich kelp forest offer prime habitat for California spiny lobster, leopard sharks, and surfperch

CRYSTAL COVE SMCA

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LAGUNA BEACH SMR & LAGUNA BEACH SMCA (NO-TAKE)

Nestled between Crystal Cove SMCA and Dana Point SMCA
Popular for SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming, beach walking and sunbathing
Surfgrass beds provide critical habitat to many species of fish and invertebrates

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DANA POINT SMCA

SMCA to protect tidepools: home to kellet whelks, top shells, limpets, sea cucumbers, and abalone
One of best whale watching regions in the U.S.
Annual “Festival of Whales”

Two-weekend long whale watching event in March, celebrates migration of gray whales and other marine life

©Anita Ritenour

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SEAL BEACH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Created in 1972 by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Saltwater marsh and estuary
Conserve habitats for endangered species such as California least tern (pictured) and light-footed clapper rail
Thousands of migrating birds and dense wildlife

©Anita Ritenour

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LOCAL MARINE SPECIES

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LOCAL FISH SPECIES

SHEEPHEAD

SAND BASS

BARRACUDA

YELLOWTAIL AMBERJACK

TUNA

HALIBUT

Photo here

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LOCAL INVERTEBRATE SPECIES

PURPLE SHORE CRAB

NUDIBRANCH

SEA STAR

SPINY LOBSTER

SEA CUCUMBER

ANEMONE

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LOCAL BIRD SPECIES

BRANDT’S CORMORANT

WESTERN SANDPIPER

CASPIAN TERN

BROWN PELICAN

COMMON MURRE

Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

KILLDEER

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LOCAL MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES

BLUE WHALE

HUMPBACK WHALE

CALIFORNIA SEA LION

HARBOR SEAL

GRAY WHALE

RISSO’S DOLPHIN

©Ashala Taylor

©Tom Benson

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LOCAL MARINE ALGAE AND PLANT SPECIES

SEAGRASS

BULL KELP

GIANT KELP

©Bennilover

©Peggy Foreman

SEA LETTUCE

CORALLINE ALGAE

SPONGEWEED

©aka CJ

©kqedquest

©Laura Camp

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ENVIRONMENTAL�ETIQUETTE

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

Call Pacific Marine Mammal Center: (949) 494-3050

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 Pacific 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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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, call: Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center: (714)-374-5587

Orange County 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 Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach. 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 are now being spotted in areas they have not previously been found. 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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CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS�ORANGE COAST DISTRICT

Orange Coast District is home to 7 State Beaches
PORTS Programs offers virtual K-12 field trips to Crystal Cove State Park & Crystal Cove SMCA

Sign up on PORTS website: https://www.ports-ca.us/home/PORTSon-demand/crystal-cove-state-park

Offer many volunteer opportunities including beach cleanups in partnership with Surfrider Foundation and interpretive tidepool volunteers
For more information, email vol.orangecoast@parks.ca.gov

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ORANGE COUNTY JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM

Fun and safe aquatic education

Learn valuable life skills

teamwork, fitness, and respect for the coastal environment

Training is appropriate to age group and builds

Provide educational lessons as well including marine biology and oceanography

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Orange County Coastkeeper�We protect and promote water resources that are swimmable, drinkable, fishable, and sustainable. We achieve our goals through education, advocacy, research, enforcement, and restoration.�MPA Watch�Marine Protected Area (MPA) Watch Program volunteers gather human use data on and offshore along the coast of Orange County.�Cleanup OC �Cleanup OC volunteers to help protect and restore the environment and community by engaging in monthly beach and neighborhood cleanups.�

�To learn more and volunteer see www.coastkeeper.org

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BOLSA CHICA CONSERVANCY

@Kirt Edblom

@Ruthie Maloney

Restoration and education in wetland science, watersheds, coastal ecology, and environmental sustainability.
Lead education, restoration and research projects
Interpretive center hosts exhibits and species native to Bolsa Chica
Volunteer opportunities
Learn more at www.bolsachica.org

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BACK BAY SCIENCE CENTER

@Kirt Edblom

@Ruthie Maloney

Citizen Science: Monthly opportunities to participate in the Marine Life Inventory program.
Education: Grades 7- College
Volunteer Opportunities: Eelgrass education and research program in collaboration with Orange County Coastkeeper
Annual Events: Coastal Cleanup Day, CA Biodiversity Day, Earth Day
Research: HAB Watch, Biotoxin Monitoring Program, Orange County Water Quality Testing and Monitoring for Coliforms
Rare Sightings in the MPA: pacific seahorse, green sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins

www.backbaysciencecenter.org

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DISCOVERY CUBE

@Kirt Edblom

@Ruthie Maloney

Provides immersive, interactive science activities to make learning fun!
They aim to inspire, educate, and impact through STEM proficiency, early learning, healthy living, and environmental stewardship
Original center in Orange County, have now expanded to Los Angeles

Visit www.discoverycube.org to plan your visit today!

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NEWPORT BAY CONSERVANCY

Focused on protection and preservation of Upper Newport Bay
Offer guided kayak tours Saturday and Sunday mornings
Partner with Peter and Mary Ruth Interpretive Center and Back Bay Science Center to offer programs to students
Volunteers are key to their mission, visit newportbay.org to learn more!

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Crystal Cove Conservancy is the nonprofit partner to Crystal Cove State Park, working to ensure that Crystal Cove, and all places like it, live on for generations.

Marine Protected Area Science Cruise. In partnership with Newport Landing Sportfishing, Crystal Cove Conservancy puts underserved high school students on the water to monitor changes in the Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area.
Snapshot Cal Coast. The Conservancy partners with Crystal Cove State Park to run two public bioblitzes each year to support the state-wide Snapshot Cal Coast.
Other Community Science Events. Throughout the year, The Conservancy hosts other opportunities to get involved in community science within the Crystal Cove SMCA!

Crystal Cove Conservancy

For more information, visit CrystalCove.org

or contact holly@crystalcove.org!

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VOLUNTEER WITH COASTAL ANGELS

@Kirt Edblom

@Ruthie Maloney

Orange County based non profit that hosts voluntary beach cleanup events

Raises awareness of plastic and other pollutants in Orange County

Give back to your community and the ocean by participating in efforts to reduce pollutants

Join the next beach cleanup! Sign up at http://coastalangels.org/cleanups

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PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER

"The Pacific Marine Mammal Center Rescues, Rehabilitates And Releases Marine Mammals And Inspires Ocean Stewardship Through Research, Education And Collaboration,” (www.pacificmmc.org).

TO REPORT A SICK OR INJURED MARINE ANIMAL CALL (949) 494-3050

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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 community 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.

Share observation of plants, animals, and seaweeds using iNaturalist app.

Help build an annual snapshot of biodiversity along the California coast.

Become part of a 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:

1-888-491-GEAR (4237)

Report lost fishing gear:

www. Boatingcleanandgreen.com

Learn about clean boating and how to recycle fishing line:

Pacific Marine Mammal Center (949-494-3050)

Report Injured, Sick, or Dead Marine Mammals:

Seabird Protection Network (visit www. SeabirdProtectionNetwork.org)

Report Sick or Dead 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

CA Statewide Whale Rescue Team

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