Friday, April 8, 2022, 10:00 am; Moon phase: Waxing Crescent 43% illuminated; Low Tide
The Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Area (herein
referred to as Blue Cavern Onshore) size is about 2.61 square miles and spans
the shoreline by about 2.2 miles with depths from 0 to 892 feet. The habitat
composition is 2.50 miles of sand/mud; 0.09 square miles of rock; and 0.02
miles of other.
Protected Area:
The Blue Cavern Onshore SMCA goal is to protect the sandy
seafloor, surf grass, kelp forest, caverns, marine life, and the rocky reef
habitat near shore There is No-fishing and No-collecting with anchoring
restrictions.
Blue Cavern Onshore by hiking 2 miles from Two Harbors
along the access road down to the beach access onto Fisherman’s Cove adjacent
to Wrigley Marine Science Center.
Adjacent to a helipad are two concrete benches and a sign
describing the MPA titled “Conserving California’s Coastal Treasures”. The sign describes California’s leads the
nation in MPAs and displays the boundaries of the Blue Cavern Onshore and
Offshore SMCAs.
Upon entering the launch/boat ramp down to shore, it is
easy to notice the large boulders of blue schist rock by its
color: blue. The rock was formed when
cold ocean crust was forced (subducted) into the earth’s interior, where high
pressure transformed it into a new metamorphic rock. Other metamorphic rock is scattered along the
shore of the beach.
Entering into the water plant life starts immediately.
Various small turf like miniature of about 1/8-1/4-inch-high bushy shrubs
carpeted the bottom in shades of brown and green. As I ventured deeper the
plants become bigger and contained fern like stalks that whisked with the ocean
current.
Fish life was abundant with garibaldi, opal eye, male
sheepshead, calico bass, kelp bass, anchovy and others. Unlike fishing areas
these fish were calm and free moving. Usually, calico bass are the fastest and skittish
fish I’ve interacted with in the ocean.
They were calm and swam with me observing without fear. Do fish know that they are in a No-take
SMCA? These did.
[fish]
The most beautiful sight was that of the yellow-brown Giant
Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) growing to the ocean surface ranging from 7 feet to
12 feet tall. The stalks/stipes were thick with an abundant amount of fully
grown healthy blades. The kelp provided a protective habitat for various fish
with many emerging from among the density of the kelp blades to take a gander
on what is a big slow swimming human.
Among them was a large male sheepshead with dark/black find and red
center.
[Giant Kelp]
Among the seafloor plants is a purple fern like plant
standing at about 8 inches high waving in the ocean current. Brilliantly purple. At this moment a juvenile garibaldi emerges
from behind the sea fern dazzling with its brilliant blue/purple spot against
its orange/blue body. Amazing!
[Purple Fern]
It is obvious that this MPA has maintained and protected
marine life especially compared to Two Harbors shoreline. Two Harbors shoreline is void of this great
diversity of plant and animal life where boats frequently anchor and dump their
waste discharge. Fish fight for their
lives and survival is much tougher in Two Harbors than the rich protected ocean
environment of the Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Area.
Spectacular Beauty!
[ I need to work on identifying ocean plants, as my two
Audubon California Guides are lacking]
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