It is not unusual to see a pod of dolphins frolicking along our shores. And we also see seals for love to jump up and show the fish they just coat. Mussels are grown near the Hope Ranch beaches, halibut, and sea bass have spawning grounds in the Sandyland Cove, and spiny lobsters thrive. King Salmon has returned to our waters, and not long ago a giant king crab was found on the beach. We even have a seal nursery (rookery) that is manned and womanned 24 hours a day by volunteers during birthing season.
December heralds tidepooling time. This is the time when the ocean has an open house.
The reefs come up laden with sea life: there are sponges(brightyellow), starfish in rainbow colors, turban shells, Tiffany blue anemones and a variety of shell life. Naturalists and marine biologists count the sea life and record the health of our waters from year to year.
We are thankful and appreciative to everyone who cares for our beaches and values these underwater treasures on our Santa Barbara Coast.
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