A Boater's Guide to Seabird Protection

Seabirds are sensitive to your presence - approaching too close to seabird colonies by boats causes chaos resulting in abandoned nests, that could lead to the deaths of eggs and chicks and eventual decreases in populations.

View this video and learn how you can help protect seabirds!

To protect seabirds and other marine life, the California Department of Fish & Game designated Marine Protected Areas from the Mexico Border to Point Arena, including Special Closures (no entry zones) along the California central coast. Learn more about Special Closure locations off San Mateo, San Francisco and Marin Counties. Click here to download your Guide to Special Closures in California's Marine Protected Areas.

Join fellow boaters and help protect seabirds by following these tips:

Stay 1,000 feet (3 football fields) from cliffs, offshore rocks and islands.
Watch the birds for signs you are too close (head-bobbing or wing-fluttering), if you see these reactions move away.
Never discard fishing line overboard, cover bait, and use barbless hooks or artificial lures to avoid hooking birds.
Prevent pollution and follow clean boating habits San Francisco's Bay Clean Boating map (1.8 MB PDF)!

Free Materials

Free Boater and Kayaker Guide to Special Closures in California's Marine Protected Areas. Download your copy, today.
Get your boating information packet and a map of Special Closures (no entry zones) and Marine Protected Areas (1.4 MB PDF) along the north central California coast.
FREE Poster (956 KB PDF)! Great for harbors, boating clubs and associations!
FREE Tidebook! Get your pocket size tidebook.
Invite the Seabird Protection Network to give a free educational presentation. Expert staff will present to your group or club. Contact us to see where presentations are happening in your area.

View (3.4 MB PDF) an example of our presentation.

Help protect California's coastal wildlife!