Pub. Resources Code, § 36700

Six classifications for designating managed areas in the marine and estuarine environments are hereby established as described in this section, to become effective January 1, 2002. Where the term “marine” is used, it refers to both marine and estuarine areas. A geographic area may be designated under more than one classification.

(a) A “state marine reserve” is a nonterrestrial marine or estuarine area that is designated so the managing agency may achieve one or more of the following:

(1) Protect or restore rare, threatened, or endangered native plants, animals, or habitats in marine areas.

(2) Protect or restore outstanding, representative, or imperiled marine species, communities, habitats, and ecosystems.

(3) Protect or restore diverse marine gene pools.

(4) Contribute to the understanding and management of marine resources and ecosystems by providing the opportunity for scientific research in outstanding, representative, or imperiled marine habitats or ecosystems.

(b) A “state marine park” is a nonterrestrial marine or estuarine area that is designated so the managing agency may provide opportunities for spiritual, scientific, educational, and recreational opportunities, as well as one or more of the following:

(1) Protect or restore outstanding, representative, or imperiled marine species, communities, habitats, and ecosystems.

(2) Contribute to the understanding and management of marine resources and ecosystems by providing the opportunity for scientific research in outstanding representative or imperiled marine habitats or ecosystems.

(3) Preserve cultural objects of historical, archaeological, and scientific interest in marine areas.

(4) Preserve outstanding or unique geological features.

(c) A “state marine conservation area” is a nonterrestrial marine or estuarine area that is designated so the managing agency may achieve one or more of the following:

(1) Protect or restore rare, threatened, or endangered native plants, animals, or habitats in marine areas.

(2) Protect or restore outstanding, representative, or imperiled marine species, communities, habitats, and ecosystems.

(3) Protect or restore diverse marine gene pools.

(4) Contribute to the understanding and management of marine resources and ecosystems by providing the opportunity for scientific research in outstanding, representative, or imperiled marine habitats or ecosystems.

(5) Preserve outstanding or unique geological features.

(6) Provide for sustainable living marine resource harvest.

(d) A “state marine cultural preservation area” is a nonterrestrial marine or estuarine area designated so the managing agency may preserve cultural objects or sites of historical, archaeological, or scientific interest in marine areas.

(e) A “state marine recreational management area” is a nonterrestrial marine or estuarine area designated so the managing agency may provide, limit, or restrict recreational opportunities to meet other than exclusively local needs while preserving basic resource values for present and future generations.

(f) A “state water quality protection area” is a nonterrestrial marine or estuarine area designated to protect marine species or biological communities from an undesirable alteration in natural water quality, including, but not limited to, areas of special biological significance that have been designated by the State Water Resources Control Board through its water quality control planning process. “Areas of special biological significance” are a subset of state water quality protection areas, and require special protection as determined by the State Water Resources Control Board pursuant to the California Ocean Plan adopted and reviewed pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 13160) of Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Water Code and pursuant to the Water Quality Control Plan for Control of Temperature in the Coastal and Interstate Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California (California Thermal Plan) adopted by the state board.