Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area

Their job was to design a network of protected areas that would preserve sensitive sea life and habitats while enhancing recreation, study and education opportunities.

The Duxbury Reef SMCA will offer increased protections to these benthic species in a heritage area, while allowing traditional access.

Through a haze of salty fog, visitors can observe the thunderous ocean breakers washing over long sandy beaches and crashing into rocky cliffs.

Point Reyes National Seashore covers over 100 square miles (260 km2) and includes 3,300 acres (13 km2) of coastal wilderness area.

Similar studies in marine protected areas located off of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands have already detected gradual improvements in fish size and number.