Duxbury Reef MPA Expansion Hearing

On April 21st, the California Fish & Game Commission (Commission) will be discussing petitions that were submitted to adaptively manage California’s marine protected areas, including Environment Action Committee of West Marin’s petition to increase protections at Duxbury Reef’s rare rocky intertidal habitat.

 The petion, 2023-32MPA  – Would reclassify Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) to a State Marine reserve (SMR) and Expand the Southern and Northern Boundaries

The Duxbury Reef Petition proposes redesignating the current Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area as a State Marine Reserve, as well as expanding its boundaries to encompass the full, contiguous reef habitat. This would expand the northern boundary to the Double Point/Stormy Stack Special Closure, and the southern boundary to the most southerly tip of Duxbury Reef exposed at mean lower low water, or to about 37°53’07.9”N, 122°41’45.3”W.

The Commission is scheduled to substantively begin discussing North Coast petitions  including the proposed change from the existing SMCA designation to State Marine reserve at a California Fish and Game Commission meeting on April 21st in San Mateo.

The recommendation proposes to continue allowing access for recreational fishing and non-consumptive uses at Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area (tidepooling, dog walking, education, surfing, boating, and research) while protecting the full extent of the rare, biodiverse, and ecologically-connected rocky reef habitat, large parts of which are currently unprotected. We will additionally advocate for clarified language that better protects the reef while maintaining most recreational fishing.

 Tell the Commission You Support More Protection at Duxbury Reef

Comment Here

As ‘the most extensive rocky intertidal habitat’ that exists in California, the Department’s evaluation acknowledges the real threats the reef faces from fragmented habitat on the local scale, to climate change on the global scale. This potential regulation change would better protect species by providing regulatory clarity and safeguarding contiguous habitat, enhancing intertidal health and the tidepooling and educational experiences for all who visit the reef.

Non-consumptive uses will not be impacted by this proposed change. The public will be able to continue exploring, tidepooling, surfing, kayaking, walking their dogs, and engaging in research and education at this special place. In fact, Duxbury Reef SMCA is one of the premier sites for marine education in Marin County and is visited by people and students from all over the Bay Area and beyond.

California, globally recognized for our conservation policy, has also set an ambitious yet critical goal of conserving 30 percent of state lands and coastal waters by 2030 (30×30). This is necessary to protect and restore biodiversity, expand access to nature, and mitigate and build resilience to climate change.

The need for improved signage and continued education, which the organization will continue working on through the local Duxbury Docents program.

Duxbury Reef SMCA is one of the premier sites for marine education in Marin County and is visited by people and students from all over the Bay Area and beyond.