Asilomar State Marine Reserve, Marine reserve off the Monterey Peninsula, California, United States

Asilomar State Marine Reserve covers 1.51 square miles (3.9 km2) directly offshore from Asilomar State Beach, at the southern end of Monterey Bay. Its boundaries run from the mean high tide line to straight lines between three offshore points, and it holds kelp forest, beach, rocky intertidal and soft and hard bottom. It is the westernmost of four marine protected areas bordering the Monterey Peninsula, next to the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area.

Asilomar State Marine Reserve was established in September 2007 by the California Department of Fish and Game. It was one of 29 marine protected areas adopted in the first phase of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, which built a statewide network along the California coast. The reserve protects heavily used nearshore waters while leaving most coastal waters open to continued fishing.

Scientists monitor the reserve under the Marine Life Protection Act, using hook-and-line sampling, scuba surveys and remote-operated submarines. The Hopkins Marine Station, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories take part. The nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium displays a 28-foot living kelp forest with species native to these protected waters.

Visitors can access the coastal areas freely and watch marine animals directly from cliffs and beaches without fees. The tide pools are most rewarding to explore during low tide when sea creatures are visible in shallow water.

The reserve is the westernmost of four marine protected areas bordering the Monterey Peninsula, and it lies directly offshore from Asilomar State Beach, whose 0.75-mile walking trail runs along the shore above it. It is adjacent to the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area, and all four areas sit within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.