Point St. George Reef Offshore State Marine Conservation Area

Point St. George Reef Offshore SMCA is named for Point St. George, which lies outside of the MPA on the coastal mainland. A prominent rocky point about three miles north of Crescent City, Point St. George juts out into the Pacific and provides panoramic views of the area. The rocky point is affiliated with St. George Reef, which runs northwest from the point. The reef’s submerged rock structures teem with life and the exposed rock protrusions are surrounded by open ocean on all sides. Only about a half square mile of this reef lies within the SMCA.

Remotely operated vehicle expeditions into Point St. George Reef Offshore SMCA reveal biologically diverse marine life inhabiting its deep waters. Various species such as vermilion rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, copper rockfish, and quillback rockfish swim around large boulders on the sea floor, while basket stars, California sea cucumbers, and white-plumed anemones inhabit the rocky reef. Pacific halibut and other flatfish species expertly camouflage themselves on the sandy ocean floor awaiting their next meal, and sea whips, white sea pens and anemones poke out of the soft substrate while groups of Dungeness crab scurry across the sediments.

For centuries, Native American Tribes in California have relied on marine and coastal resources. Many Native American Tribes in California continue to regularly harvest marine resources within their ancestral territories and maintain relationships with the coast for ongoing customary uses. The Tolowa Dee-ni’ tribe are the indigenous peoples of the coastal region that extends from just north of False Klamath to the Sixes River in Oregon, and up watersheds extending inland from the sea.

Living along rich coastal waters, the Tolowa people rely on food from the sea, including salmon, smelt, and mussels. Through a factual record of historical take within the Point St. George Reef Offshore SMCA, the Elk Valley Rancheria and the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation are exempt from the MPA regulations.

British maritime explorer George Vancouver gave Point St. George its name during his 1790s expedition along the eastern Pacific coast. Gold was discovered in California in 1849, and the resulting population surge settled the area currently known as Crescent City near Point St. George shortly thereafter.

Within the Point St. George Reef Offshore SMCA, some recreational and commercial fishing activities are allowed, including take of Dungeness crab and salmon (see regulations for specific information).

With depths ranging from about 175 to 400 feet, this MPA is only accessible by boat. Vessels can be launched from nearby Crescent City Harbor.

Point St. George is an ideal land-based location for viewing the historic lighthouse, just outside the boundaries of the MPA, and for seasonal bird and whale watching.

This area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed except where noted:

41° 52.000' N. lat. 124° 23.189' W. long.;
41° 52.000' N. lat. 124° 25.805' W. long.; thence southward along the three nautical mile offshore boundary to
41° 49.000' N. lat. 124° 26.252' W. long.;
41° 49.000' N. lat. 124° 23.189' W. long.; and
41° 52.000' N. lat. 124° 23.189' W. long.

California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(2)