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Take Action!
Send Comments & Attend 4/21 Meeting to Advocate for Duxbury Reef & Strong MPAs

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.

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 EAC’s petition to increase protections at Duxbury Reef’s rare rocky intertidal habitat. As climate change worsens and new science emerges, let the Commission know YOU support ocean conservation and adaptive management that will keep our renowned marine protected area network strong!

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.

How YOU Can Help: Tell the Commission You Support More Protection at Duxbury Reef

See Sample Talking Points At the End of This Email

(1) Attend the April 21st Commission meeting (virtually or in person) to support strong marine protected areas locally, including the Department’s recommendation that Duxbury Reef’s FULL intertidal habitat be protected within a State Marine Conservation Area.

Agenda & Instructions

When: Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, 8:00 AM

Where: San Mateo Elks Lodge, 229 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403 (Remote option available)

What to Attend or Cede Comment Time? Let Us Know Here!

(2) Submit a letter in support by April 13th 8:00 AM (or April 17th 12:00 PM at the latest) by filling out the form below.

(Please customize! See Sample Talking Points below the form. Tell the Commission your connection to the reef: are you a long-time visitor or local community member? What changes have you observed at the reef? Why is intertidal protection, and protecting the educational and tidepooling experiences of future generations, important to you? Also, feel free to advocate for a reserve designation if that is your wish. The Commission can go further than the staff evaluation.)

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Background:

Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area is an existing marine protected area and one of the largest shale reefs in North America. It is home to over 200 different species of invertebrates, seaweeds, marine plants, fish, and seabirds that visit the reef.

This amazing reef habitat extends far beyond the currently protected area, containing rare and sensitive species, seabird nesting sites, and harbor seal colonies. This unique and magical place is important not just for the many creatures who call it home, but also for the recreational and educational experiences of thousands who visit annually for tidepooling, research, and recreation.

Unfortunately, over a decade of community science data has shown high visitation and unpermitted injury, damage, and take at Duxbury Reef. Agencies, community scientists, educators, and long-time visitors have noticed a decline in species abundance. There is also documented visitor confusion about the State Marine Conservation Area’s current regulations. And, its current boundaries don’t even cover the entirety of the ecologically connected reef habitat—despite these areas containing high biodiversity, rare species, and marine mammal haul-outs.

In 2023, EAC submitted a petition to the Commission proposing a regulation change that could address these issues. The statewide marine protected area petition process exists to adaptively manage California’s marine protected area network as new science, shifting needs, and climate change impacts emerge. It invites public participation to both submit proposed regulatory changes, and provide feedback on submitted petitions. Last month, the Department released its long-awaited evaluations of these marine protected area (MPA) petitions.

In a big win for protecting intertidal habitat, the Department has recommended granting “in concept” our petition’s request to expand the boundaries of the existing Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area to encompass the northern and southern reef habitat that is currently unprotected. Their evaluation recognizes the importance of protecting the rare and ecologically connected reef habitat adjacent to Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area’s current boundary. Protecting the full extent of the reef habitat would better protect species by providing regulatory clarity and enhancing intertidal health, climate resilience, and the tidepooling and educational experiences for all who visit the reef. This is a huge win for ocean conservation, since nearly all other state petitions were rejected. Learn More: EAC's Statement on the Evaluations

What’s next? Department recommendations are NOT final decisions. The Commission—the final decision-maker—still has to vote whether to adopt the recommendations, or something completely different! A final decision may occur in June of this year.

In April, we will be asking the Commission to accept the Department’s recommendation that the currently unprotected reef habitat be protected in a State Marine Conservation Area, and we will also advocate for clarified language, such as “no take from tidepools” and fishing “from shore by hook and line” only, to better protect fragile intertidal life and clarify to the public that this sensitive rocky intertidal habitat should be strongly protected.

Sample Talking Points (feel free to incorporate in your above comment):

Share your experience with the area and the reef.
Enhancing access for non-consumptive users, like the thousands of people who visit Duxbury Reef each year to tidepool, take walks, kayak, learn, and study, is important. Non-consumptive users make up the majority of users of Duxbury Reef (an average of 95%), and their recreational and educational experiences will be further enhanced with the protection of the full extent of the reef for the benefit of intertidal health.
Duxbury Reef’s biodiverse habitat extends far beyond the current marine protected area and should be protected in a State Marine Conservation Area. The north contains relatively pristine habitat that is ecologically connected to that in the existing marine protected area. The Double Point/Stormy Stack Special Closure is at the northern end of the northern proposed expansion and contains crucial seabird nesting areas, and Double Point is also home to one of the largest breeding harbor seal colonies in California. 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 small but consistent harbor seal colony year-round. Including these areas within the marine protected area will enhance the health of the entire reef by reducing disturbance to reef creatures in these zones.
The unprotected area north of Duxbury Reef is extremely important for the health and biodiversity of the current protected area, as well as other habitats along the coast. Through prevailing currents, it 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 percent of other sites in the state. This area should be protected by the state’s marine protected area network.
Climate change and warming temperatures are causing rocky intertidal communities to shift north over time. Duxbury Reef and the northern unprotected area may become climate refuges for Central and Southern California’s intertidal communities as temperature gradients shift north. Studies show that protected rocky intertidal zones are more resilient to disturbances from climate change and human activity than non-protected zones.
While making Duxbury Reef a full, no-take State Marine Reserve would afford it the highest level of protection, balancing ecological protection with recreational fishing uses is also important. In lieu of a stronger designation, language clarifications like "no take from tidepools" and fishing "from shore by hook and line" only can address the documented visitor confusion at Duxbury Reef and better protect reef creatures from unpermitted take.

Send Your Comments

Below is a sample letter you can use to send the Fish & Game Commission comments by April 8th (ideally) or April 16th (at the latest). Please customize your comments with your personal connection to Duxbury Reef or the coast, and the sample talking points.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOUR STREET ADDRESS DOESN'T WORK, TRY YOUR PO BOX.

CA Fish and Game Commission

Subject: FGC Meeting 4/21: Comment on Duxbury Reef Petition #2023-32MPA

Message:

I am writing to provide public comment on Duxbury Reef Petition #2023-32MPA for your review at the April 21st, 2026 Fish & Game Commission meeting. I support the staff recommendation to "grant in concept" the northern and southern boundary expansions at Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area, which propose to include the currently unprotected intertidal habitat in a State Marine Conservation Area. The northern unprotected part of the reef is extremely important for larval connectivity, is adjacent to important seabird nesting areas and a marine mammal colony, and may be increasingly important as 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. Protecting this rare and productive habitat will improve larval connectivity and the reef's resilience to climate change. Protecting these ecologically connected areas benefits not only the health of intertidal creatures, but also enhances the recreational and educational access of the ~95% of people who visit Duxbury Reef to tidepool, take walks, learn, and study. I urge the Commission to protect this special place by adopting the Department recommendation and protecting the north and south intertidal habitat within a State Marine Conservation Area. The full extent of Duxbury Reef's sensitive and biodiverse habitat deserves to be protected for current and future generations. Thank you for considering my comments.

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How YOU Can Help: Tell the Commission You Support More Protection at Duxbury Reef

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Thank You for Supporting Duxbury Reef and Marine Protected Areas!