Off Point Sur on the Big Sur coast, adjoining marine protected areas established in September 2007 cover 19.68 square miles and form part of California’s expanding network of protected coastal waters. The state marine reserve fully protects marine life, while the conservation area allows only limited take of salmon and albacore. Along this remote, rugged shoreline, sheltered kelp beds provide nursery habitat for rockfish and other species, while healthy fish populations and comparatively pristine habitat support sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, whales, seabirds, and many fishes. The waters also support recreation, scientific monitoring, and research tied to long-term ocean health.