Cambria State Park And Marine Protected Area

Cambria Marine Protected Areas

The White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) extends south along the Cambria coast. The Cambria State Marine Park (SMP) is a narrow strip of coastal waters between Pico Creek bridge in San Simeon and Cambria, south of Moonstone Beach. Here, researchers constantly seek insight into how to protect our oceans. Specifically, scientists look at the value of preserving the Pacific’s kelp beds and vibrant tidal areas. Several roads south of Moonstone Beach lead down to this rugged and scenic stretch of coast. Once there, find coastal trails along the bluffs and terraces, all of them deserving to be photographed.

Passed by the California State Legislature in 1999, the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) required the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to redesign its system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to increase its coherence and effectiveness at protecting the state’s marine life, habitats, and ecosystems. For the purposes of MPA planning, a public-private partnership commonly referred to as the MLPA Initiative was established, and the state was split into five distinct regions (four coastal and the San Francisco Bay), each of which had its own MPA planning process. All four coastal regions have completed these individual planning processes. As a result, the coastal portion of California’s MPA network is now in effect statewide.