South La Jolla State Marine Reserve/State Marine Conservation Area

The area around San Diego once received much more rain than it does now, and large rivers and lagoons were common in ancient times. The combination of these ancient lagoons, rivers, and tectonic activity created the coves, sea cliffs, and canyons of the MPAs we see today. Kelp forests, surfgrass beds, hard and soft sea floor, sandy beaches, and rocky shores exist within these MPAs, creating conditions for high biological diversity.

These environments support a rich assemblage of marine creatures including invertebrates like aggregating anemones, mantis shrimp, and sea stars, and fish such as grunion, barred sand bass, black perch, and garibaldi. It is also common to see sea lions, flocks of brown pelicans, and occasionally migrating gray whales. All seven species of abalone found in California are protected within South La Jolla SMR and SMCA. Along the shore, cliffs provide nooks for roosting seabirds and wave-cut marine terraces provide the occasional harbor seal with a resting place.

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 Kumeyaay people have a long history of living in the San Diego County area. The tidepools of La Jolla, teeming with edible animals and plants, have been harvested by the Kumeyaay for both food and jewelry for thousands of years. Abundant Native American prehistoric artifacts and human remains have been found along this stretch of coast.

European exploration in Southern California began in 1602 when Sebastian Vizcaino was sent by Spain to map the California coast. Settlement did not begin, however, until 1769 with the Portola Expedition and beginning of the Mission Era. With Spanish settlement, the land was used for cattle ranching, farming, and logging, which transformed the landscape. After the United States acquired California in 1848, homesteading and small communities began to form. A large housing boom in 1880 sparked developers' interest in the bustling port city of San Diego, and La Jolla began to develop into a seaside residential town. Nearby Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the oldest marine science research facilities in the United States, remains a hub for cutting-edge marine research. These MPAs are some of the most studied temperate marine systems in the world.

In South La Jolla SMR, there is no take of any marine resource permitted. The MPA is easily accessed and provides many recreational opportunities. While the SMCA is offshore and only accessible by boat or kayak, it does offer opportunities for fishing. Recreational anglers are permitted to fish by hook-and-line for pelagic finfish within the South La Jolla SMCA, but no other take is permitted.

Visitors and residents can enjoy surfing, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, tidepooling, and sunbathing. Beginning to intermediate surfers can catch waves at Law Street Beach or Tourmaline, while the more experienced can venture to Big Rock or Bird Rock. Snorkeling and scuba diving can also be rewarding with the right mix of conditions. Low tide exposes tidepools with the best spots being at Sun Gold Point, Bird Rock, and Pacific Beach (False) Point.

Calumet Park, Tourmaline Surfing Park, and Palisades Park(opens in new tab) offer beautiful views of the MPAs. An expansive sandy beach can be found south of Pacific Beach Point and to the north lie many secluded coves. Many local species living within the La Jolla MPAs can be observed at nearby Birch Aquarium(opens in new tab), which is affiliated with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and open to the public.

South La Jolla SMR

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

32° 49.573′ N. lat. 117° 16.781′ W. long.;
32° 49.573′ N. lat. 117° 19.000′ W. long.;
32° 47.945′ N. lat. 117° 19.000′ W. long.; and
32° 47.945′ N. lat. 117° 15.495′ W. long.

California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(143)(opens in new tab)

South La Jolla SMCA

This area is bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed except where noted:

32° 49.573′ N. lat. 117° 19.000′ W. long.;
32° 49.573′ N. lat. 117° 20.528′ W. long.; thence southward along the three nautical mile offshore boundary to
32° 47.945′ N. lat. 117° 20.068′ W. long.;
32° 47.945′ N. lat. 117° 19.000′ W. long.; and
32° 49.573′ N. lat. 117° 19.000′ W. long.

California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(144)(opens in new tab)

Downloads for South La Jolla State Marine Reserve

Map

Facts, Map & Regulations

Downloads for South La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area

Map

Facts, Map & Regulations