The national marine fisheries service has designated nearly 42-thousand miles as protected habitat for endangered pacific leatherback sea turtles. The federal regulations limit oil drilling, marine vessel traffic, fishing, and other activities. The protected area includes nearly 17-thousand miles along the California coastline, from point arena to point arguello. The protected zone is designed to protect the turtles and their food source, jellyfish, as the turtles migrate from the west coast to Indonesia.
