Existing Marine Protected Areas in California: Regulations

The areas listed below are marine protected areas that currently exist in California State waters. This list includes the Central Coast Marine Protected Areas, which went into effect on September 21, 2007.

The following abbreviations are used on this page:     - State Marine Reserve - SMR     - State Marine Park - SMP     - State Marine Conservation Area - SMCA

Recreational Regulations  |  Commercial Regulations

Recreational Regulations

Note: Within each county these areas are arranged in order of most restrictive to least restrictive. Some marine protected areas have overlapping boundaries and are noted below. When regulations differ between overlapping areas, the more restrictive regulations apply. In certain areas the type of gear used and locations where fishing may occur are also restricted, this table provides only a summary of the species restrictions in each area. Two Special Closures are included in this table. While technically they do not meet the definition of a marine protected area, their restrictions are significantly different than surrounding areas and are included for ease of identification by the public. For more information please contact your local Department office.

COUNTY / SITE NAME	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Humboldt County
Punta Gorda State Marine Reserve	All	None
Mendocino County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Point Cabrillo State Marine Conservation Area	All	None
MacKerricher State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT red abalone, chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1	Red abalone, chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1; Finfish
Russian Gulch State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Van Damme State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Manchester and Arena Rock State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Sonoma County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Bodega State Marine Reserve (overlaps Sonoma Coast SMCA)	All	None
Gerstle Cove State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Salt Point SMCA)	All	None
Del Mar Landing State Marine Park	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates	Finfish
Fort Ross State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT red abalone, chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1	Red abalone, chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1; Finfish
Sonoma Coast State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Bodega SMR)	Same as above	Same as above
Salt Point State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Gerstle Cove SMCA)	Same as above	Same as above
Napa County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Fagan Marsh State Marine Park (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants	Invertebrates; Finfish
Marin County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Point Reyes Headlands State Marine Conservation Area	All	None
Estero de Limantour State Marine Conservation Area (estuarine)	All	None
Tomales Bay State Marine Park (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants	Invertebrates; Finfish
Corte Madera Marsh State Marine Park (estuarine)	Same as above	Same as above
Marin Islands State Marine Park (estuarine)	Same as above	Same as above
Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT red abalone, Dungeness crab and rock crabs; All finfish EXCEPT rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), lingcod, cabezon, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), halibut, flounder, sole, turbot, salmon, kelp greenling, striped bass, steelhead, monkeyface-eel, wolf-eel, smelt and silversides	Red abalone, Dungeness crab and rock crabs; Rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), lingcod, cabezon, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), halibut, flounder, sole, turbot, salmon, kelp greenling, striped bass, steelhead, monkeyface-eel, wolf-eel, smelt and silversides
San Francisco County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Farallon Islands State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; Area Closures March 15 - August 15	All invertebrates and finfish (outside area closures)
Solano County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Peytonia Slough State Marine Park (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants	Invertebrates; Finfish
Alameda County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Robert W. Crown State Marine Conservation Area (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates	Finfish
Albany Mudflats State Marine Park (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants	Invertebrates; Finfish
San Mateo County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area	All	None
James V. Fitzgerald State Marine Park	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates; All fishes EXCEPT rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), lingcod, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), monkeyface eel, rock eel, white croaker, halibut, cabezon, kelp greenling, and smelt (Families Osmeridae and Atherinidae)	Rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), lingcod, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), monkeyface eel, rock eel, white croaker, halibut, cabezon, kelp greenling, and smelt (Families Osmeridae and Atherinidae)
Redwood Shores State Marine Park (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants	Invertebrates; Finfish
Bair Island State Marine Park (estuarine)	Same as above	Same as above
Santa Cruz County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area	All	None
Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve	All	None
Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish, invertebrates and marine aquatic plants EXCEPT salmon, squid, giant kelp, and other finfish taken by hook-and-line from shore.	Salmon, squid, and by hook-and-line from shore only: other finfish. Giant kelp, by hand harvest only.
Monterey County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve	All	None
Moro Cojo Estuary State Marine Reserve	All	None
Lovers Point State Marine Reserve	All	None
Asilomar State Marine Reserve	All	None
Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve	All	None
Point Lobos State Marine Reserve	All	None
Point Sur State Marine Reserve	All	None
Big Creek State Marine Reserve	All	None
Point Lobos State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon and albacore
Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon and albacore
Big Creek State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon and albacore
Soquel Canyon State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants, all invertebrates, all finfish EXCEPT Northern anchovy, barracudas, billfishes, dolphinfish, Pacific herring, jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel, salmon, Pacific sardine, blue shark, salmon shark, shortfin mako shark, thresher shark, swordfish, tuna, and yellowtail.	Northern anchovy, barracudas, billfishes, dolphinfish, Pacific herring, jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel, salmon, Pacific sardine, blue shark, salmon shark, shortfin mako shark, thresher shark, swordfish, tuna, and yellowtail.
Portuguese Ledge State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants, all invertebrates, all finfish EXCEPT Northern anchovy, barracudas, billfishes, dolphinfish, Pacific herring, jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel, salmon, Pacific sardine, blue shark, salmon shark, shortfin mako shark, thresher shark, swordfish, tuna, and yellowtail.	Northern anchovy, barracudas, billfishes, dolphinfish, Pacific herring, jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel, salmon, Pacific sardine, blue shark, salmon shark, shortfin mako shark, thresher shark, swordfish, tuna, and yellowtail.
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants, all invertebrates, all finfish EXCEPT those taken by hook-and-line.	Finfish by hook-and-line only.
Elkhorn Slough State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish and invertebrates EXCEPT finfish taken by hook-and-line, and clams. All marine aquatic plants.	Finfish by hook-and-line only. Clams.
Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants, all invertebrates	Finfish
Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates	Finfish
San Luis Obispo County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve	All	None
Cambria (White Rock) State Marine Conservation Area	All	None
Morro Bay State Marine Reserve	All	None
Point Buchon State Marine Reserve	All	None
Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon and albacore
Point Buchon State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon and albacore
Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; finfish taken south of latitude 35°19.70'	North of latitude 35°19.70' : finfish.
Cambria State Marine Conservation Area	None	All
Santa Barbara County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Vandenberg State Marine Reserve	All	None
Richardson Rock State Marine Reserve2 (San Miguel Island)	All	None
Special Closure: San Miguel Island (San Miguel Island)	Boating prohibited within 300 yards from shore between Castle Rock and Judith Rock except as noted	Boats may approach no nearer than 100 yards from shore during the period(s) from March 15 through April 30, and October 1 through December 15
Judith Rock State Marine Reserve2 (San Miguel Island)	All	None
Harris Point State Marine Reserve2 (San Miguel Island)	All	None
South Point State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Rosa Island)	All	None
Carrington Point State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Rosa Island)	All	None
Skunk Point State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Rosa Island)	All	None
Gull Island State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Cruz Island)	All	None
Scorpion State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Cruz Island)	All	None
Santa Barbara Island State Marine Reserve2	All	None
Painted Cave State Marine Conservation Area2 (Santa Cruz Island)	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT lobster; All finfish EXCEPT pelagic finish3	Lobster; Pelagic finfish3
Goleta Slough State Marine Park (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants	Invertebrates; Finfish
Refugio State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1	Chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1; Finfish
Ventura County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Anacapa State Marine Reserve2	All	None
Special Closure: Anacapa Pelican Fledgling Area	No entry January 1 to October 31	Entry allowed November 1 to December 31
Big Sycamore Canyon State Marine Reserve	All	None
Anacapa State Marine Conservation Area2	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT lobster; All finfish EXCEPT pelagic finish3	Lobster; Pelagic finfish3
Los Angeles County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Catalina Marine Science Center State Marine Reserve (Catlina Island)	All	None
Lovers Cove State Marine Conservation Area (Catalina Island)	All	None
Abalone Cove State Marine Park	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates	Finfish
Special Closure: Arrow Pt. to Lions Head Pt. (Catalina Island) Invertebrate Area	All invertebrates	Marine aquatic plants; Fishes
Farnsworth Bank State Marine Conservation Area (Catalina Island)	All marine aquatic plants; Purple coral	Invertebrates (except purple coral); Finfish
Point Fermin State Marine Park	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT lobster; All fishes EXCEPT rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), greenling, lingcod, cabezon, yellowtail, mackerel, bluefin tuna, kelp bass, spotted sand bass, barred sand bass, sargo, croaker, queenfish, corbina, white seabass, opaleye, halfmoon, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), blacksmith, barracuda, California sheephead, bonito, California halibut, sole, turbot and sanddab	Lobster; Rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), greenling, lingcod, cabezon, yellowtail, mackerel, bluefin tuna, kelp bass, spotted sand bass, barred sand bass, sargo, croaker, queenfish, corbina, white seabass, opaleye, halfmoon, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), blacksmith, barracuda, California sheephead, bonito, California halibut, sole, turbot and sanddab
Orange County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Heisler Park State Marine Reserve (overlaps Laguna Beach SMP)	All	None
Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Irvine Coast SMCA)	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1	Chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1; Finfish
Doheny State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Doheny Beach SMCA)	Same as above	Same as above
Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All species between the mean high tide and mean lower-low water lines (intertidal zone); All invertebrates outside the intertidal zone EXCEPT lobster; All fish outside the intertidal zone EXCEPT rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), greenling, lingcod, cabezon, yellowtail, mackerel, bluefin tuna, kelp bass, spotted sand bass, barred sand bass, sargo, croaker, queenfish, corbina, white seabass, opaleye, halfmoon, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), blacksmith, barracuda, California sheephead, bonito, California halibut, sole, turbot and sanddab	None between the mean high tide and mean lower-low water lines (intertidal zone); Lobster outside the intertidal zone; Rockfish, greenling, ling cod, cabezon, yellowtail, mackerel, bluefin tuna, kelp bass, spotted sand bass, barred sand bass, sargo, croaker, queenfish, Corbina, white seabass, opaleye, halfmoon, surfperch, blacksmith, barracuda, sheephead, bonito, California halibut, sole, turbot, and sanddab outside the intertidal zone
Robert E. Badham State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT lobster; All fishes EXCEPT rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), greenling, lingcod, cabezon, yellowtail, mackerel, bluefin tuna, kelp bass, spotted sand bass, barred sand bass, sargo, croaker, queenfish, corbina, white seabass, opaleye, halfmoon, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), blacksmith, barracuda, California sheephead, bonito, California halibut, sole, turbot and sanddab	Lobster; Rockfish (family Scorpaenidae), greenling, lingcod, cabezon, yellowtail, mackerel, bluefin tuna, kelp bass, spotted sand bass, barred sand bass, sargo, croaker, queenfish, corbina, white seabass, opaleye, halfmoon, surfperch (family Embiotocidae), blacksmith, barracuda, California sheephead, bonito, California halibut, sole, turbot and sanddab
Irvine Coast State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Crystal Cove SMCA)	Same as above	Same as above
Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Heisler Park SMR)	Same as above	Same as above
South Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Niguel State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Doheny Beach State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Doheny SMCA)	Same as above	Same as above
Bolsa Chica State Marine Park (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants	Invertebrates; Finfish
Upper Newport Bay State Marine Park (estuarine)	same as above	same as above
San Diego County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Recreational Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Recreational Take
Agua Hedionda Lagoon State Marine Reserve (estuarine)	All	None
La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area	All	None
Buena Vista Lagoon State Marine Park (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates	Finfish
Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Park (estuarine)	Same as above	Same as above
San Elijo Lagoon State Marine Park (estuarine)	Same as above	Same as above
San Dieguito Lagoon State Marine Park (estuarine)	Same as above	Same as above
Encinitas State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
San Diego-Scripps State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Mia J. Tegner State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Cardiff and San Elijo State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1	Chiones, clams, cockles, rock scallops, native oysters, crabs, lobsters, ghost shrimp, sea urchins, mussels, and worms1; Finfish

¹ No worms may be taken in any mussel bed unless taken incidentally to the take of mussels.

² The Channel Islands MPAs were already adopted using the Marine Managed Areas Improvement Act naming classifications.

³ Pelagic finfish, for the purpose of this section, are defined as: northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), barracudas (Sphyraena spp.), billfishes* (family Istiophoridae), dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi), jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus), Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus), salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax), blue shark (Prionace glauca), salmon shark (Lamna ditropis), shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), thresher sharks (Alopias spp.), swordfish (Xiphias gladius), tunas (family Scombridae), and yellowtail (Seriola lalandi). *Marlin is not allowed for commercial take.

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Commercial Regulations

Note: Within each county these areas are arranged in order of most restrictive to least restrictive. Some marine protected areas have overlapping boundaries and are noted below. When regulations differ between overlapping areas, the more restrictive regulations apply. In certain areas the type of gear used and locations where fishing may occur are also restricted, this table provides only a summary of the species restrictions in each area. Two Special Closures are included in this table. While technically they do not meet the definition of a marine protected area, their restrictions are significantly different than surrounding areas and are included for ease of identification by the public. For more information please contact your local Department office.

COUNTY / SITE NAME	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Humboldt County
Punta Gorda State Marine Reserve	All	None
Mendocino County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Point Cabrillo State Marine Conservation Area	All invertebrates	Marine aquatic plants; Finfish
MacKerricher State Marine Conservation Area	Giant kelp and bull kelp; All invertebrates EXCEPT crabs, ghost shrimp, jackknife clams, sea urchins, squid, and worms1	Algae (except giant kelp and bull kelp); Crabs, ghost shrimp, jackknife clams, sea urchins, squid, and worms1; Finfish
Russian Gulch State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Van Damme State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Manchester and Arena Rock State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Sonoma County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Bodega State Marine Reserve (overlaps Sonoma Coast SMCA)	All	None
Del Mar Landing State Marine Park	All	None
Gerstle Cove State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Salt Point SMCA)	Giant kelp and bull kelp; All invertebrates	Algae (except giant kelp and bull kelp); Finfish
Salt Point State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Gerstle Cove SMCA)	Giant kelp and bull kelp; All invertebrates EXCEPT crabs, ghost shrimp, jackknife clams, sea urchins, squid, and worms1	Algae (except giant kelp and bull kelp); Crabs, ghost shrimp, jackknife clams, sea urchins, squid, and worms1; Finfish
Fort Ross State Marine Conservation Area	Giant kelp and bull kelp	Algae (except giant kelp and bull kelp); Invertebrates; Finfish
Sonoma Coast State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Bodega SMR)	Same as above	Same as above
Napa County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Fagan Marsh State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Marin County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Tomales Bay State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Corte Madera Marsh State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Marin Islands State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Point Reyes Headlands State Marine Conservation Area	Giant kelp and bull kelp; All invertebrates	Algae (except giant kelp and bull kelp); Finfish
Estero de Limantour State Marine Conservation Area (estuarine)	Same as above	Same as above
Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area	Giant kelp and bull kelp	Algae (except giant kelp and bull kelp); Invertebrates; Finfish
San Francisco County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Farallon Islands State Marine Conservation Area	Area Closures March 15 - August 15	All (outside area closures)
Solano County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Peytonia Slough State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Alameda County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Albany Mudflats State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Robert W. Crown State Marine Conservation Area (estuarine)	All marine aquatic plants EXCEPT kelp; All invertebrates	Kelp; Finfish
San Mateo County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Redwood Shores State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Bair Island State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
James V. Fitzgerald State Marine Park	All	None
Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish, invertebrates and aquatic marine plants EXCEPT giant kelp taken by hand harvest only	Giant kelp taken by hand harvest only
Santa Cruz County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve	All	None
Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish, invertebrates and marine aquatic plants EXCEPT giant kelp taken by hand harvest only	Giant kelp taken by hand harvest only
Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish, invertebrates and marine aquatic plants EXCEPT salmon, squid, giant kelp by hand harvest only.	Salmon, squid. Giant kelp by hand harvest only.
Monterey County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve	All	None
Elkhorn Slough State Marine Conservation Area	All	None
Moro Cojo Estuary State Marine Reserve	All	None
Lovers Point State Marine Reserve	All	None
Asilomar State Marine Reserve	All	None
Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve	All	None
Point Lobos State Marine Reserve	All	None
Point Sur State Marine Reserve	All	None
Big Creek State Marine Reserve	All	None
Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish, all invertebrates. All marine aquatic plants EXCEPT giant kelp taken by hand harvest only.	Giant kelp by hand harvest only
Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish, all invertebrates. All marine aquatic plants EXCEPT giant kelp taken by hand harvest only.	Giant kelp by hand harvest only
Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish, all invertebrates. All marine aquatic plants EXCEPT giant kelp taken by hand harvest only.	Giant kelp by hand harvest only
Soquel Canyon State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants, all invertebrates, all finfish EXCEPT pelagic finfish.	Pelagic finfish
Portuguese Ledge State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants, all invertebrates, all finfish EXCEPT pelagic finfish.	Pelagic finfish
Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon and albacore
Point Lobos State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates EXCEPT spot prawn; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon, albacore, and spot prawn
Big Creek State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates EXCEPT spot prawn; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon, albacore, and spot prawn
San Luis Obispo County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve	All	None
Cambria State Marine Conservation Area	All	None
Morro Bay State Marine Reserve	All	None
Point Buchon State Marine Reserve	All	None
Cambria (White Rock) State Marine Conservation Area	All finfish, all invertebrates. All marine aquatic plants EXCEPT giant kelp and bull kelp (conditions apply)	Giant kelp and bull kelp (conditions apply)
Morro Bay State Marine Recreational Management Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates EXCEPT aquacultured oysters; all finfish (commercial finfish taken outside of Morro Bay SMRMA and stored in a receiver for bait purposes may be possessed)	Aquaculture of oysters; finfish taken outside of Morro Bay SMRMA and stored in a receiver for bait purposes may be possessed
Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon and albacore
Point Buchon State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; all invertebrates; all finfish EXCEPT salmon and albacore	Salmon and albacore
Santa Barbara County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Vandenberg State Marine Reserve	All	None
Richardson Rock State Marine Reserve2 (San Miguel Island)	All	None
Special Closure: San Miguel Island	Boating prohibited within 300 yards from shore between Castle Rock and Judith Rock except as noted	Boats may approach no nearer than 100 yards from shore during the period(s) from March 15 through April 30, and October 1 through December 15. Commercial Sea Urchin Permittees may enter the portion of the closed area between the western boundary of the Judith Rock SMR and Castle Rock for the purpose of taking urchins.
Judith Rock State Marine Reserve2 (San Miguel Island)	All	None
Harris Point State Marine Reserve2 (San Miguel Island)	All	None
South Point State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Rosa Island)	All	None
Carrington Point State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Rosa Island)	All	None
Skunk Point State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Rosa Island)	All	None
Gull Island State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Cruz Island)	All	None
Scorpion State Marine Reserve2 (Santa Cruz Island)	All	None
Santa Barbara Island State Marine Reserve2	All	None
Painted Cave State Marine Conservation Area2 (Santa Cruz Island)	All	None
Goleta Slough State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Refugio State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants EXCEPT kelp; All invertebrates EXCEPT crabs, ghost shrimp, jackknife clams, sea urchins, squid, and worms1	Kelp; Crabs, ghost shrimp, jackknife clams, sea urchins, squid, and worms1; Finfish
Ventura County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Anacapa State Marine Reserve2	All	None
Special Closure: Anacapa Pelican Fledgling Area	No entry January 1 to October 31. No nets or traps shallower than 20 feet around entire island.	Entry allowed November 1 to December 31
Big Sycamore Canyon State Marine Reserve	All	None
Anacapa State Marine Conservation Area2	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT lobster; All finfish	Lobster
Los Angeles County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Catalina Marine Science Center State Marine Reserve (Catlina Island)	All	None
Abalone Cove State Marine Park	All	None
Point Fermin State Marine Park	All	None
Lovers Cove State Marine Conservation Area (Catalina Island)	All marine aquatic plants EXCEPT kelp; All invertebrates	Kelp; Finfish
Farnsworth Bank State Marine Conservation Area (Catalina Island)	Purple coral	Marine aquatic plants; Invertebrates (except purple coral); Finfish
Special Closure: Arrow Pt. to Lions Head Pt. (Catalina Island) Invertebrate Area	None - Note other species and gear restrictions apply	All - Note other species and gear restrictions apply
Orange County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Heisler Park State Marine Reserve (overlaps Laguna Beach SMP)	All	None
Bolsa Chica State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Upper Newport Bay State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area	All except Lobster	Lobster
Robert E. Badham State Marine Conservation Area	All except Lobster	Lobster
Irvine Coast State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Crystal Cove SMCA)	All except Lobster	Lobster
Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Heisler Park SMR)	All except Lobster	Lobster
South Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area	All except Lobster	Lobster
Niguel State Marine Conservation Area	All except Lobster	Lobster
Doheny Beach State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Doheny SMCA)	All except Lobster	Lobster
Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Irvine Coast SMP)	Giant kelp and bull kelp; All invertebrates EXCEPT crabs, ghost shrimp, jackknife clams, sea urchins, squid, and worms1	Algae (except giant kelp and bull kelp); Crabs, ghost shrimp, jackknife clams, sea urchins, squid, and worms1; Finfish
Doheny State Marine Conservation Area (overlaps Doheny Beach SMCA)	None	All
San Diego County	SPECIES PROHIBITED For Commercial Take	SPECIES ALLOWED For Commercial Take
Agua Hedionda Lagoon State Marine Reserve (estuarine)	All	None
Buena Vista Lagoon State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
San Elijo Lagoon State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
San Dieguito Lagoon State Marine Park (estuarine)	All	None
La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates EXCEPT squid with restrictions; All finfish	Squid for the purpose of bait by hand-held net west of a line drawn due north from Goldfish pt.
Encinitas State Marine Conservation Area	All marine aquatic plants; All invertebrates	Finfish
San Diego-Scripps State Marine Conservation Area	Same as above	Same as above
Mia J. Tegner State Marine Conservation Area	All invertebrates	Marine aquatic plants; Finfish
Cardiff and San Elijo State Marine Conservation Area	None	All

¹ No worms may be taken in any mussel bed, nor may any person pick up, remove, detach from the substrate any other organisms, or break up, move or destroy any rocks or other substrate or surfaces to which organisms are attached.

² The Channel Islands MPAs were already adopted using the Marine Managed Areas Improvement Act naming classifications.