Overview
Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) (No-Take) is the second largest of the coastal marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Santa Barbara region. It covers more than 10 square miles of coastal waters, stretching along the Goleta coastline adjacent to Coal Oil Point Reserve, Devereux Slough, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Ten miles west of Santa Barbara and within walking distance of the student neighborhood of Isla Vista, this MPA is frequented by beachgoers, divers, surfers, kayakers, and researchers.
The typically gentle waves and numerous coastal access points allow visitors easy access to the water and the panoramic views. Campus Point SMCA (No-Take) consists of rocky shores with surfgrass beds and wide sandy beaches accessible from bluff-top cliffs. Offshore, the MPA provides habitat for a wide variety of rockfish, as well as lingcod, halibut, white seabass, crabs, and anemones. Marine mammals, particularly gray whales, and numerous migratory and resident birds can also be spotted at the MPA.
Regulations
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) (link below) for details.
California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(99)(opens in new tab)
Quick Facts
MPA size: 10.56 square miles
Shoreline span: 3.1 miles
Depth range: 0 to 748 feet
Habitat composition:
- Rock: 1.17 square miles
- Sand/mud: 9.95 square miles