Cover • Table of Contents • Executive Summary • Abstract • Figures • Tables
Introduction • Existing Zones • Potential Future Zones • Appendices • Acknowledgements
Existing Zones
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Type of Zone: Limited Harvest Legislated Title of Site: Marine Life Refuge Location of Site San Mateo County Year Established 1969 |
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Established By
State Legislature
Agency Responsible
California Department of Fish and Game
Purpose
No legally mandated purpose accompanies the marine life refuge designation.
Regulations
General Regulations
1) Except under a permit or specific authorization, it is unlawful: to take or possess any invertebrate or specimen of marine plant life in a marine life refuge (Fish and Game Code 10500(f)).
2) Non-commercial Use of Invertebrates. Tidal invertebrates may not be taken in any tidepool or other areas between the high tide mark (defined as Mean Higher High Tide) and 1,000 feet seaward and lateral to the low tide mark (defined as Mean Lower Low Water) except as follows: In all other areas, except where prohibited within marine life refuges or other special closures: Abalone, limpets, moon snails, turban snails, chiones, clams, cockles, mussels, rock scallops, native oysters, octopuses, squid, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, sand dollars, sea urchins and worms may be taken (14 Cal. Code of Regs. 29.05(b)(2)).
3) Non-commercial Use of Marine Plants. Marine aquatic plants may not be cut or harvested in marine life refuges, marine reserves, ecological reserves, national parks or state underwater parks (14 Cal. Code of Regs. 30.00(b)).
Site Specific Regulations
1) In the James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, the following fish and mollusks may be taken under the authority of a sportfishing license, as authorized by this code: abalone, rockfish (Sebastes), lingcod, surfperch (Embiotocidae), monkeyface eel, rock eel, white croaker, halibut, cabezon (Scopaenichthys marmoratus), kelp greenling (Hexogrammos decagrammus), and smelt (Osmeridae and Antherinidae). No such fish having fins may be taken except by hook and line or by spearfishing. All other fish and forms of aquatic life are protected and may not be taken without a written permit from the department (Fish and Game Code 10666).
2) Commercial Use of Invertebrates. No mollusks, crustaceans or other invertebrates may be taken in Marine Life Refuges, except the James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve pursuant to subsection 8305.5(b), Fish and Game Code (14 Cal. Code of Reg. 123(f)(2)(a)).
Evaluation of Effectiveness
Enforcement of Regulations
Reserve regulations are enforced by reserve staff and volunteers, CDFG wardens, and the San Mateo County sheriff's department. Currently, approximately 90% of enforcement is by reserve staff and volunteers due to their frequent presence in the reserve while leading educational and monitoring programs. The frequent (approximately 25% of daylight hours), yet unpredictable, presence of staff and volunteers in the reserve may act to deter poaching in the reserve. In addition, having regulations posted at every entrance to the reserve appears to help educate visitors about activities that are restricted in the reserve (Bob Breen, supervising naturalist, James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve).
Achievement of Purpose &endash; (based on comments from Bob Breen, supervising naturalist, James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve)
Evaluation of this zone is difficult because it lacks a legally mandated purpose. However, there are a number of ongoing programs at the reserve that act to monitor biological resources, educate visitors, and involve the community in management.
Seashore Docents. The seashore docents program began in 1972 and currently has 55 adult volunteers. Docents act as roving naturalist interpreters on weekends. In addition, docents lead field trips for children (grades 3 &endash;12). Approximately 4,000 school children attend field trips in the reserve each year.
High School Naturalists. The high school naturalist program began in 1995. Each year 29 juniors and seniors from Half Moon Bay High School attend classes in the fall and winter to learn the natural history of central California marine habitats. In the spring these students lead tidepool discovery walks for visiting children (grades 3-12).
Friends of the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Friends of the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is a non-profit organization that began in 1985. This organization publishes a newsletter, financially supports the reserve's education programs, and acts as a political advocate for the reserve at the city, county, and state level.
S.E.A.L.S. The S.E.A.L.S. program monitors harbor seals and sea otters to determine if human activities impact the behavior of these animals. Determining changes in the animal's reproductive behavior is the major focus of this program. The S.E.A.L.S. program is run through the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
Junior Naturalists. The junior naturalist program, which began in 1992, teaches junior high school students how to assist reserve staff with ongoing projects that monitor human impacts on the plants and animals in the reserve.
Overlapping Sites
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Shark Attraction Prohibited
- Montara SB
- James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve ASBS
References
McArdle, D. A. 1997a. California Marine Protected Areas. Publication No. T-039. California Sea Grant Publication, San Diego, CA. 268 pp.
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Last modified on: May 29,
2001