California Sea Grant College Program

In a series of diver surveys, biologists documented relatively high densities of kelp forest fishes, including kelp bass, within and around the nearly four-decades old San Diego–La Jolla Ecological Reserve. Based on the fishes observed during the surveys, scientists recommend expanding the small, 210-hectare, “no-take” reserve to include a greater proportion of nearby rocky reef and submarine canyon habitats. A 100-year archive of fishes collected from the area suggests a larger reserve could benefit more than 200 species.