Sea Kayaking Regulations and Guidelines
Kayaking is a unique and rewarding way to experience the pristine marine environment of the Channel Islands. Here you will encounter spectacular displays of wildlife. Island cliffs, caves and the shorelines are home to twelve different species of nesting seabirds and shorebirds, including ashy and leach’s storm-petrels, Xantus’s murrelets, Brandt’s and pelagic cormorants, Cassin’s auklets, pigeon gillemots and black oystercatchers. The Channel Islands, and all their associated islets and offshore rocks comprise one of the largest breeding centers on the west coast for seabirds and shorebirds. California sea lion and harbor seals also rest and breed throughout the island’s shoreline.

The protection and preservation of these rare and unique resources is a major mission of the National Park Service. By following the wildlife -viewing specific regulations and guidelines listed below, you can help protect these park treasures for future generations to enjoy. This information is designed specifically to help in planning an environmentally sound sea kayak trip in the park. For more information on kayaking in the park including planning your trip, weather, safety, and other park regulations please refer to the park newspaper or visit www.nps.gov/chis/.

In addition to the regulations listed below, visitors must comply with all regulations in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Superintendent’s Compendium. Visit www.nps.gov/chis/ for a complete list of regulations.

•As in all national parks, natural and cultural resources are protected under federal law. Visitors may not collect, harass, feed or otherwise harm the native wildlife, plant life or other natural and cultural resources of Channel Islands National Park. These include, but are not limited to, vegetation, animals, rocks, shells, feathers and other natural, archeological, and historic features within the park.

•Under federal law it is illegal to feed, touch, tease, frighten or intentionally disturb wildlife, including seabirds, seals and sea lions. They are very sensitive to any type of human disturbance, especially during nesting and pupping seasons. [Title 36CFR 2.2 (a)(2)]

•Do not directly or indirectly feed the native wildlife. Wildlife can become habituated to human food by being fed. Once habituated, these animals will beg for food, becoming nuisances to visitors. In addition, habituated animals may bite and transmit diseases, and may consume plastics which obstruct their digestive systems, causing them to starve. Secure your food and garbage at all times. [Title 36CFR 2.2 (a)(2)]

•To protect wildlife, landing is prohibited on all offshore rocks and islets. [Superintendent’s Compendium 36 CFR 1.5 (a)(1)]

•Visitors may not set foot ashore inside sea caves, including, but not limited to ledges and beaches. [Superintendent’s Compendium 36 CFR 1.5 (a)(2)]

•To protect nesting ashy storm-petrels and Xantus’s murrelts and their habitats, Bat Cave and caves #3 and #4 within the Cavern Point Cove Cave Complex are closed year-round at Santa Cruz Island. Bat Cave hosts the largest nesting colony for the rare ashy storm-petrel in the world with over 100 nests. The Xantus’s murrelet is proposed for state and federal endangered species listing. [Superintendent’s Compendium 36CFR 1.5 (a)(1)]
Bat Cave: UTM 11S 0262623,  3770695
Lat. N34°03’07.2”, Long. W119°34’25
Cavern #3 & #4: UTM 11S 0263641,  37709
Lat. N34°03’16.0”, Long. W119°33’41

Guidelines
•Avoid approaching areas (sea caves, offshore rocks, cliffs, and beaches) with birds, seals and sea lions that are roosting, nesting or pupping. Look ahead and give animals a 100-yard clearance if possible. Be alert for birds that you may not be able to see around guano-covered rocks and pinnipeds hauled out on secluded beaches. Seabirds and shorebirds are disturbed easily and may knock their eggs out of or abandon their nests if they are flushed suddenly. Adult birds will stay away from the nest while people are in the area. The eggs or chicks may overheat in the sun without parental protection. Gulls and ravens are less shy of people and will take advantage of a disturbance to steal eggs and chicks. Entire colonies have been lost this way. Pupping harbor seals, sea lions and other pinnipeds also are sensitive to any type of human disturbance and may abandon their pups. Be careful not to disturb seal pups that appear stranded on beaches. These pups are being weaned by their mothers. In addition, all of these animals are easily disturbed when resting or preening on rocks or secluded beaches at the water’s edge. Rest periods are important to their energy budget. Approach new territory slowly and quietly. If you see animals close by, quietly move away. There may be more animals than you first see.

•It is recommended that visitors avoid sea caves, including dry caves behind beaches, during the spring and summer when seabirds are nesting. Entering caves and/or making loud noises in these areas may cause seabirds to abandon their nests. Pelagic cormorants nest on tiny ledges of sea cliffs and just inside the mouths of caves. Xantus’s murrelets, pigeon guillemots and ashy storm-petrels nest in crevices, ledges, and under rocks and debris inside caves. Many sea birds leave their nests alone while feeding, so even if birds are not present, a misplaced step could crush an egg or chick by moving a loose rock. Bats also hibernate in some of the dry sea caves and waking them can cause a fatal depletion of energy reserves. There may be resting birds and pinnipeds in caves and on offshore rocks even after the breeding season. Under federal law it is illegal to disturb and/or harm these animals. Be cautious of pinnipeds resting on rocks or beaches in the backs of caves. Startling a pinniped that you can’t see in the dark could be hazardous for you as well.

•Avoid using artificial light when viewing wildlife and at anytime while in sea caves. Birds, pinnipeds, bats, and other animals are all easily disturbed by artificial light.

•In order to be rewarded with displays of interesting natural behavior, never chase any animals and do not try to see how close you can approach them. If an animal starts to look alarmed (appears agitated or starts watching you), then you are too close. Even though it may not show obvious agitation, being too close can cause severe stress. Sit calmly at a safe distance. Let the animal’s natural curiosity take over and it may approach you. Let seabirds, pinnipeds, foxes and other animals adjust to your presence and you will be rewarded with displays of exciting natural behavior. For your safety as well as theirs, do not approach sick or injured animals. Alert a ranger or a wildlife rehabilitation center.

•Avoid disturbance of nesting and pupping wildlife and take advantage of the islands’ best weather by kayaking during September and October. Most seabirds, shorebirds and pinnipeds have completed their reproductive cylces by this time. In addition, calm seas and wind are common during these months.