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Admiralty Head Marine Preserve
WAC
220-16-780: "'Admiralty Head Marine Preserve' is defined
as waters and bedlands inside a line beginning at the extreme low
water line on the west shore of Whidbey Island at 48° 09.46' N,
122° 40.88' W then northerly along the extreme low
water line for 0.6 nautical miles, then due west 400 yards, then
southerly parallel to the shore to a point due west of the point
of origin, then due east to the point of origin." Effective since
9/9/2002.
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| CLICK
IMAGE TO ENLARGE MAP
 
(Note: this is
the same map as used for the Keystone Harbor CA)
Geographic
Statistics
| Area
Type |
Acres |
Hectares |
| Intertidal |
None |
None |
| Subtidal |
88.40 |
35.77 |
| Total |
88.40 |
35.77 |
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Links
to other imagery about this site
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|
 The
finder map at left, extracted from the Admiralty Head map,
has the locations of the photographer from where the four
images below were taken.
Standing
shoreward of "the rock" at the south end of the preserve,
facing west:
 |
Facing
south from the red dot at the top of the finder map.
 |
 Looking
NNW from the hill at the intersection of the two parallel
roads just north of the lighthouse. Note the dark spot
on the beach in the distance: a large piece of driftwood
visible in the previous image. |
A panorama taken from the yellow dot in the map above,
starting SW going through W to NW, shown by the red lines.
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| Recreational
Restrictions / Openings |
| Species |
Status |
Comments,
notes... |
| Salmon |
Closed |
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| Trout |
Closed |
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| Bottomfish |
Closed |
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| Shellfish |
Limited |
Open
only for sea cucumber and urchin. |
| Forage
Fish |
Closed |
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| Unclassified |
Closed |
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| Commercial
Restrictions / Openings |
Species |
Status |
Comments,
notes... |
| Salmon |
Closed |
|
| Bottomfish |
Closed |
|
| Shellfish |
Limited |
Open
only for sea cucumber and urchin. |
| Forage
Fish |
Closed |
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| Unclassified |
Closed |
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| Prominent
and unique features |
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The Admiralty Head Marine Preserve incorporates a nearshore
kelp bed that grows upon a mix of rocks, boulders and
ridges of hardpan and bedrock just north of Fort Casey
State Park. The uplands consist of eroding sandstone bluffs
and the shoreline is primarily composed of cobble, pebble,
and gravel. Most of the upland is adjacent to the Fort
Casey Conference Center and also includes the northern
portion of Fort Casey State Park.
The reserve extends offshore from the extreme low
water mark and extends down to depths of 40 feet (mllw).
The habitat contains a mosaic of coarse sediments including
sand, pebble and cobble mixed with isolated boulders
and ridges of moderate relief consisting of bedrock
and hardpan. While the rocky habitat is generally of
low complexity and contains few crevices for fish to
hide, the extensive cover of understory kelps including
Pterygophora californica and Laminaria saccharina
as well as dense cover of upper canopy bull kelp (Nereocyctis
leutkeana) provides a complex habitat for fish and
invertebrates. The kelp bed extends close to shore just
interrupted by a shallow nearshore channel. Offshore
and deeper, the benthic habitat consists of sand, gravel,
pebble, and cobble and may contain other rocky outcroppings.
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| Description
of fish, bird, and mammal resources at the site |
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Fish populations at the site have been characterized only
to a limited degree. Fish abundance is somewhat variable
and may be dependent upon the time of year since the extent
of the kelp bed is seasonal. Fish surveys have documented
large rockfish (Sebastes caurinus), black rockfish
(S. melanops), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus),
and striped seaperch (Embiotoca lateralis). The
area is near a popular salmon fishing site and several
species of salmon (Genus Oncorhynchus) are expected
to move in and out of the reserve.
Other biological resources include a variety of encrusting
organisms, red rock crab (Cancer productus),
sea stars, red sea cucumber (Parastichopus californicus),
red sea urchins (Stronglyocentrotus franciscanus)
and green sea urchins (S. droebachensis). The
commercial tribal and non-tribal sea cucumber and sea
urchin fisheries use the site heavily. |
| Programs
in place to manage the site |
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WDFW manages the site as partially-protected marine reserve
for non-tribal citizens. WDFW regulations prohibit recreational
fishing and harvesting at the Admiralty Head Marine Preserve.
Most forms of commercial fishing are not allowed except
for dive fisheries for sea urchins and sea cucumbers.
The taking of all other species of invertebrates and fishes
is prohibited by WDFW regulations.
The site is primarily located offshore from the Fort
Casey State Park and the Fort Casey Conference Center.
Both the state park staff and the Fort Casey Conference
Center staff are onsite and provide observations and
education from the uplands. The state park staff provides
supplemental enforcement to WDFW agents. Signs are placed
at both the state park and conference center stating
regulations.
The enforcement of the harvest restrictions is relegated
to the Enforcement Program of WDFW. Information on the
site boundaries and restrictions is found in WDFW's
Sport Fishing Pamphlet and formal regulations are published
at the State of Washington's Administrative Code available
on the state's web site. WDFW is developing specific
pamphlets describing each of its marine reserves.
WDWF scientists will begin conducting at least one annual
survey at the Admiralty Head Marine Preserve in their
marine reserve monitoring efforts. The scientists surveying
the site will record the species, numbers, and sizes
of fish living in the preserve. Scientific collections
by the Conference Center staff have occurred under permit
from WDFW and are anticipated to continue in this site.
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| Issues
of concern |
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A shore-based recreational salmon fishery occurs from
the southern boundary of the reserve south to the campground
at the Fort Casey State Park. During the designation process
of the reserve, fishers generally opposed the creation
of the reserve near the fishery site. The southern reserve
boundary was adjusted to minimize fishery conflicts, but
illegal fishing might occur despite the shore-marker placed
by Parks and Recreation staff.
The reserve is located at the entrance to Puget Sound
and the high volume of shipping traffic presents some
threats to the reserve if vessels become grounded or
spill toxic substances.
The potential impact of the commercial fishery for sea
urchins and sea cucumbers will need examination in the
future to determine if the removal of the algae eaters
affects the structural or ecological integrity of the
reserve. |
| Performance
measures |
| Acceptance
by local fishers.
The
development of a diverse fish community.
Increasing
or sustained abundances of copper and black rockfish.
Increasing
and sustained large individual sizes of copper rockfish.
The
presence of reproductive fish and recruiting rockfish
and lingcod. |
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