Great news! The California Department of Fish & Wildlife has recommended that the Fish and Game Commission protect the full extent of Duxbury Reef’s intertidal habitat. Take Action!
Why Protecting Duxbury Reef Matters:
Duxbury Reef is the largest shale reef in California and one of the largest in North America. This State Marine Conservation Area safeguards the rocky reef habitat of more than 200 different marine species, ranging from emerald-green surfgrass, the only flowering plant that lives in the ocean, to nudibranchs—tiny, colorful sea slugs. This unique, fossil- and ecologically rich shale reef and biodiversity hotspot draws visitors, teachers and students from all over the region for extensive tidepooling opportunities at low tide, as well as small fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.
Large swaths of this special habitat are not protected—the north is adjacent to crucial seabird nesting areas, contains one of the largest breeding harbor seal colonies in California, and contributes larvae and spores restoratively to disturbed and stressed areas along the coast. The south contains many rare and sensitive species, and is an important resting area for marine mammals.
Our Updated Position:
The California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) 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 this rare, biodiverse, and ecologically-connected rocky reef habitat, large parts of which are currently unprotected.
EAC supports the CDFW recommendation to "grant in concept" the northern and southern boundary expansions at Duxbury Reef, which would include this currently unprotected intertidal habitat in a State Marine Conservation Area. The staff recommendation would continue allowing for recreational and commercial fishing uses in these expanded areas while better protecting other sensitive intertidal life from take. We will additionally advocate for clarified language that better protects the reef while maintaining most recreational fishing.
How will protecting the full rocky reef habitat provide benefits for both reef creatures and visitors alike? The northern unprotected part of the reef is extremely vital for larval connectivity, is adjacent to important seabird nesting areas and a marine mammal colony, and may increasingly become a climate refuge for intertidal communities moving north. The southern unprotected part of the reef holds rare and sensitive species, and hosts a harbor seal colony year-round. Including this rare and productive habitat in a State Marine Conservation Area will increase regulatory clarity by safeguarding the full extent of the reef, protecting larval connectivity and improving climate change resilience. When intertidal heath is protected and marine life is abundant, the recreational and educational experiences of the ~95% of people who visit Duxbury Reef to tidepool, take walks, learn, and study is also enhanced.
Staff recommendations are not final decisions. We expect the Fish & Game Commission to vote on marine protected area petitions in October.
RESOURCES & How to take action:
Presentation to Fish & Game Commission on Updated Position - April 21, 2026 Includes summary of our request, visuals, MPA Watch data, why Duxbury Reef needs further protection, and how this proposal would protect the reef.
comment in support of more protection at Duxbury Reef
Conserving Duxbury Reef:
Petition to Increase Protections
California boasts 124 marine protected areas (MPAs). MPAs exist worldwide and safeguard habitats, promote biodiversity, help depleted species recover, and foster ecosystem climate resilience. EAC supports MPAs statewide, including running an MPA community science program locally.
In early 2023, there was a decadal management review of MPAs statewide, including the release of a comprehensive report that showed MPAs are working. One of the goals identified from this process was the opportunity for organizations, tribes, or individuals to submit petitions for regulatory changes to MPAs. In 2023, EAC submitted two petitions to update and strengthen regulations at Drakes Estero and Duxbury Reef. This is our one chance in the next 10 years to make regulatory changes that can help us adaptively manage MPAs.
What does the Petition Propose?
Duxbury Reef is currently a State Marine Conservation Area. EAC’s petition to increase protections at this place has gone through several iterations since it was initially submitted in 2023:
Nov 2023: The original petition proposed re-designating the current State Marine Conservation Area as a no-take 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.
Nov 2025: EAC requested an informal amendment to reduce the offshore portions of our petition request, emphasizing a narrow focus on intertidal protection. While the points each boundary would expand to remain the same as in the original petition, the amended boundaries are much more narrow. These changes intend to maintain offshore commercial and recreational fishing uses.
April 2026: Following CDFW’s evaluation of the petition, we updated our position to generally support CDFW’s recommendation to keep Duxbury Reef a State Marine Conservation Area, while granting “in concept” the northern and southern boundary expansions to protect the intertidal. In lieu of a more protective State Marine Reserve, EAC is also advocating for clarified language that is more protective of tidepools, and our November 2025 boundary amendments. See a presentation on our updated request.
Why is this being proposed?
Summary
Extremely rare and unique ecosystem—similar habitats in CA already fully protected as reserves
Community scientists, long-time visitors, & educators notice decline in certain species
Highly exposed & accessible at low tide—has become more popular to visit
Documented confusion of “partial take” regulations
Lack of enforcement—remote location & lack of capacity
Climate change is added stressor—marine ecosystems declining worldwide—sea level rise, ocean acidification, marine heatwaves
A rare and unique ecosystem
Duxbury Reef is a current MPA and one of the largest shale reefs in North America. At low tide, the shale reef’s channels form tidepools filled with a variety of macro algae species, fish like sculpins and monkeyface pricklebacks, crabs, turban snails, octopuses, and other amazing creatures. California mussels and gooseneck barnacles cling to rock surfaces, and the sandy seafloor and surfgrass beds support perch, flatfish, nudibranchs, crab, and other species. Researchers and community scientists have identified over 200 different species of invertebrates, seaweeds, and marine plants, as well as small fish and seabirds that frequent the reef.
The reef’s amazing and biodiverse habitat extends far beyond the current MPA:
The north is part of the Phillip Burton Marine Wilderness and contains relatively pristine habitat that is ecologically connected to that in the existing MPA. Visitation is rare, but increasing. The Double Point/Stormy Stack Special Closure contains crucial seabird nesting areas. Double Point is home to one of the largest breeding harbor seal colonies in California. The north contributes restoratively to disturbed and stressed areas at Duxbury Reef and other parts of the coast through the release of larvae and spores, more so than nearly 90% of other sites in the state.
The southern portion of the reef is entirely unprotected but contains many rare and sensitive reef species. It is also an important resting area for marine mammals traveling from the San Francisco Bay to the Farallones and hosts a harbor seal colony year-round.
INTERTIDAL UNDER stress
Rocky intertidal habitats are seriously threatened by local and regional disturbances, like trampling, collecting, disease, pollution, habitat destruction, and invasive species. The intertidal is particularly susceptible to climate impacts like sea level rise, ocean acidification, and warming temperatures. Due to these concerns, rocky intertidal habitats were targeted for protection in the Marine Life Protection Act Master Plan, and Duxbury Reef currently allows only limited take (recreational fishing from shore, and take of abalone when that fishery is open).
In the northern area, boats have been seen violating the Special Closure buffers, disturbing seabirds. The south is entirely unprotected, and marine mammals are disturbed by humans walking there. Additionally, Duxbury Reef experiences high visitation levels and unpermitted take of reef organisms. There is documented confusion that the allowance of fishing (partial take) confuses many visitors who think all take is allowed when they see shorefishing, poke-pole fishing, or fisherpeople with buckets of bait, or when they read signage or information online that suggests some take is allowed. Finally, gaps in habitat protection present enforcement challenges when people travel through the existing MPA with what they have harvested outside of it.
Over a decade has passed since Duxbury Reef was established with its current regulations—and in that decade, visitation to the reef and to California’s coasts in general have increased, and California experienced several extreme marine heatwaves that devastated ecosystems. These stressors will only increase.
Addressing these threats
EAC’s petition intends to more effectively protect this incredibly unique place and its imperiled reef species, which are vulnerable to the combined impacts of disturbance and take, while also requesting that the northern and southern boundaries of Duxbury Reef be extended to include the remaining relatively pristine contiguous reef, which would protect more marine life and ecologically connected habitat types.
We hope that with better protections in place, the species at Duxbury may recover, leading to better tidepooling and educational experiences for all.
What are the Current Regulations, and what could Change?
Duxbury Reef is currently a State Marine Conservation Area where all marine life and physical resources are protected, with some exceptions: “It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource,” except for the “recreational take of abalone, and finfish from shore only.” Currently, the recreational red abalone fishery is closed until at least April 1st, 2036.
In the proposed northern boundary expansion, rules prohibit boating within 1,000 ft of the Double Pt/Stormy Stack Special Closure. Recreational and commercial motorboats and ALL commercial enterprises are prohibited within ¼ mi from shore from Sculpture Beach to Duxbury Reef due to its designation as a Phillip Burton Marine Wilderness.
The area in the proposed southern boundary extension is entirely unprotected.
No matter what regulation change is adopted, visitors will continue to enjoy non-consumptive uses at the reef, like walking on the reef, tidepooling, surfing, boating, kayaking, education programs, research projects, and more. Around 95% of visitors come to the reef for these non-consumptive purposes.
Potential Results
If EAC’s original petition were adopted (Nov 2023): Re-designating Duxbury Reef as a State Marine Reserve would mean it becomes a fully protected, “no take” zone. Thus, the current allowances for recreational take of finfish from shore and abalone (when the fishery is open) would not be allowed. The boundaries of the new State Marine Reserve would extend to protect the entire habitat in the north and south.
If CDFW’s recommendation is adopted: The current State Marine Conservation Area would remain unchanged. The boundary expansions north and south would be granted “in concept” and would expand “protections of the rocky intertidal habitat in a manner that…does not restrict existing commercial or recreational take allowances beyond new intertidal protections in the expansion area.” It specifically recommends protecting intertidal invertebrates (except abalone when allowed) and seaweed while maintaining existing commercial and recreational take of other species from shore and by boat.
If EAC’s April 2026 position is adopted (see section “What Does the Petition Propose?”): The current State Marine Conservation Area would remain a State Marine Conservation Area. The boundary expansions north and south would also become State Marine Conservation Areas, using the amended boundaries submitted in November 2025 that focuses protection on the intertidal. The boundary amendments intend not to impact commercial fishing, which occurs by boat beyond the intertidal. Intertidal invertebrates and seaweed would be protected from take in the MPA. The additional language clarifications would prohibit take from tidepools—including fishing in tidepools—but recreational fishing would still occur off the reef.
What science supports these changes?
Changing the designation of the Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area to a State Marine Reserve would likely increase compliance with regulations over time with consistent messaging. Due to limited enforcement, decreasing confusion is critical to the reef’s health. There is a strong body of science that supports that "no-take," full protection MPAs, such as State Marine Reserves, are most effective and deliver the greatest protection and benefits for marine ecosystems. Sir David Attenborough’s recent documentary Ocean explains this well. Another study also shows that full protection, no-take MPAs are most effective for public understanding. In lieu of a State Marine Reserve, language clarifications that are more clear about preventing take from within tidepools can address some compliance challenges.
Additional scientific backing and letters of support from experts and other scientific agencies are linked below:
Learn more
FAQ
Read the original petition, supplementary letters, and additional scientific support:
EAC Original Petition - November 30, 2023
EAC Supplemental Comments for Petition - February 1, 2024
EAC Supplemental Comments for Petition - July 3, 2025
EAC Proposed Amendment - November 26, 2025 and outreach by community member
EAC Supplemental Comments for Petition - February 6, 2026
EAC Supplemental Comments for Petition - April 12, 2026
What is the timeline for the MPA petition process?
Learn more here. After hosting several public meetings about MPA petitions, the Fish & Game Commission plans to make decisions on petitions in their meeting on October 13 - 16.
What types of access will be maintained?
Visitors will continue to enjoy non-consumptive uses at the reef, like walking on the reef, tidepooling, surfing, boating, kayaking, education programs, research projects, dog walking, and more. Around 95% of visitors come to the reef for these non-consumptive purposes. None of these uses would have ever been impacted with the petition, and Duxbury Reef will not become a Special Closure.
EAC’s April 2026 position: Non-consumptive uses would not be impacted. This position intends not to significantly impact commercial fishing. Recreational fishing could still occur off the reef, though not within tidepools, if language clarifications are adopted.
CDFW recommendation: Non-consumptive uses would not be impacted. This would additionally maintain access for existing recreational and commercial fishing uses.
Are other intertidal habitats protected in California?
California’s rocky intertidal habitats are rare, covering around five square miles statewide. Only about 27% of California’s rocky intertidal habitat is protected within MPAs for the well-being of the many species that call it home and for the enjoyment of current and future generations. Many MPAs with similar intertidal habitats are fully protected as State Marine Reserves (SMRs), including the Cabrillo, Point Lobos, Montara, and Point Arena SMRs.
Enforcement efforts at Duxbury Reef
Wardens and rangers are stretched over a large geographic area and must address competing enforcement priorities, which means they cannot often be present at the reef during low tides. For at least 5 years, we have advocated to CDFW and local agencies for increased enforcement at Duxbury Reef and MPAs statewide, reporting the high amount of noncompliant take. Others have also presented enforcement requests to Marin County Parks and CDFW wardens. However, this lack of enforcement capacity has not been meaningfully addressed, and we do not expect it to improve soon, especially with state budget restrictions and Duxbury Reef’s remote location. We continue to advocate for enforcement presence.
Education efforts at Duxbury Reef
In 2022, we started a docent program at the reef with local residents in response to increased visitation and the high amount of noncompliant take observed. Our volunteer-led Duxbury Docent program focuses on visitor education and outreach, and is separate from our petition advocacy. While the docent program has been successful in interrupting some violations while providing education, docents frequently report confusion amongst visitors who have seen incomplete online information suggesting some take is allowed, seen signage indicating fishing is allowed, observed fishers with buckets and bait on the reef, or seen others passing through the MPA from currently unprotected areas (adjacent to the current boundaries) with buckets of fish and other species. It is difficult to provide effective education when visitors see partial take occurring at the same time. Additionally, all docents are volunteers who cannot be on the reef every day. Docents are also not law enforcement, and while they can educate visitors, they cannot enforce regulations.
Signage efforts at Duxbury Reef
EAC and residents continue to advocate for better signage. EAC designed and has posted temporary signs that more clearly illustrate the “partial take” rules at Duxbury Reef. These are posted when docents are on the reef. However, these signs have not been enough to deter collection, and EAC staff have personally witnessed visitors ignoring our temporary signs and continuing to collect. One study evaluating the effectiveness of MPA signage in California found that less than 5% of visitors to MPAs read signs upon arrival. While we continue to advocate for better signage, we believe the clear and simple messaging of an SMR, or language clarifications, would benefit not only signage but all the other components that contribute to visitor understanding.
When can red abalone be harvested again?
Currently, the recreational red abalone fishery is closed until April 1st, 2036, and abalone cannot be harvested. This closure is in response to their drastically declining numbers and necessary to facilitate their restoration.
What is a “petition” in the context of the Fish & Game Commission?
In this context, our Duxbury petition is a formal petition submission to the Fish and Game Commission for a rulemaking or regulation change. This is dissimilar to a petition where signatures are gathered. However, in support of our petition, we have gathered support, including numerous letters of support.
I have questions/comments, or I want to support the petition. Who do I contact?
