Overview
Point Buchon State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Buchon State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are located eight miles south of Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County. The onshore-offshore pair of adjoining marine protected areas (MPAs) covers almost 19 square miles of rocky reefs, sandy seafloor and beaches, kelp forests, rocky intertidal areas, and offshore pinnacles. The MPAs also contain some of the shallowest cold-water corals in California.
Point Buchon SMR encompasses more than 6½ square miles of ocean waters and spans 2½ miles of coastline between Coon Creek and the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Point Buchon SMCA sits offshore of the SMR and encompasses more than 12 square miles of waters that range from about 200 to 400 feet deep.
This area of the ocean is highly productive due to local upwelling of nutrients that support plankton and the marine food web. Kelp forests are filled with rockfish, sea stars, gumboot chitons, and abalone, as well as larger visitors like southern sea otters and migrating whales. The neighboring land hosts several winding coastal hiking trails, beaches, and tidepools, and is frequented by whale watchers, hikers, and beachgoers looking for remote, secluded beaches.
Regulations
Point Buchon SMR
It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource.
California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(93)(opens in new tab)
Point Buchon SMCA
It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource, EXCEPT:
Recreational and commercial take of salmon and albacore is allowed.
California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(94)(opens in new tab)
Quick Facts
Point Buchon SMR
MPA size: 6.68 square miles
Shoreline span: 2.5 miles
Depth range: 0 to 208 feet
Habitat composition*:
- Rock: 3.83 square miles
- Sand/mud: 4.90 square miles
Point Buchon SMCA
MPA size: 12.19 square miles
Depth range: 191 to 391 feet
Habitat composition*:
- Rock: 0.34 square miles
- Sand/mud: 11.33 square miles
*Habitat calculations are based on 3-dimensional area and may exceed the total MPA area listed above.