Blue Cavern Offshore SMCA

GPS Boundary:

This area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:
33° 27.50′ N. lat. 118° 27.00′ W. long.;
33° 29.97′ N. lat. 118° 27.00′ W. long.;
thence northwestward along the three nautical mile offshore boundary to
33° 30.81′ N. lat. 118° 29.30′ W. long.;
33° 27.50′ N. lat. 118° 29.30′ W. long.; and
33° 27.50′ N. lat. 118° 27.00′ W. long.;

Permitted/Prohibited Uses:

  • Recreational Fishing:
    • Allowed Species: Pelagic finfish by hook-and-line or spearfishing, white seabass by spearfishing, and market squid by hand-held dip net.
    • Prohibited Species: All other living marine resources EXCEPT those listed above.
  • Commercial Fishing:
    • Allowed Species: Pelagic finfish by hook-and-line and swordfish by harpoon.
    • Prohibited Species: All other living marine resources EXCEPT those listed above.
  • Definitions:
    • Pelagic finfish, for the purpose of this section, are a subset of finfish defined as: northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), barracudas (Sphyraena spp.), billfishes* (family Istiophoridae), dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi), jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus), Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus), salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax), blue shark (Prionace glauca), salmon shark (Lamna ditropis), shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), thresher sharks (Alopias spp.), swordfish (Xiphias gladius), tunas (family Scombridae) including Pacific bonito (Sarda chiliensis), and yellowtail (Seriola lalandi). *Marlin is not allowed for commercial take.

Effective as of: January 1, 2012

Educational Resources:

The mission of the California’s Marine Protected Areas Education and Outreach Initiative is to enhance MPA education through enduring partnerships to empower Californians to protect what they know and love.