Rules on Drones in Marine Protected Areas

July 16, 2015

Question: What are the rules regarding drones? Specifically, are there any regulations regarding flying drones in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)? (Jeanée Natov)

Answer: It is a violation to fly any aircraft, including any airplane or helicopter, less than 1,000 feet above water or land over the Año Nuevo State Reserve, the Farallon Islands Game Refuge, the Point Lobos State Reserve, the California Sea Otter Game Refuge, and Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara and San Nicolas Islands, except for rescue operations, in case of any emergency, or for scientific or filmmaking purposes under a permit issued by the department after a review of potential biological impacts (Fish and Game Code, section 10501.5).

Federal regulators of the FAA and NOAA also restrict the use of drones. Flying motorized aircraft (except valid law enforcement) is prohibited less than 1000 ft. above any of the four zones of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary which are listed in Appendix B (Code of Federal Regulations Title 15, section 922.132(a)(6)). Individuals should consult the MPA- specific regulations in section 632 of Title 14 for special restrictions for individual MPAs. There may be additional regulations prohibiting disturbance of nesting and rafting birds offshore that are covered under federal law.

I wonder if that includes Frisbee's, Kites or Balloons 

Damn, that's some bull shit.
According to this, you can't fly a remote control drone, helicopter, plane...or an actual aircraft/helicopter within 1000ft of the ocean from Bodega to Cambria??!

All those planes and helicopters must be fake, you the ones landing in HMB . This is just another Bull$hit law.

  Well then the hundreds of people that launch and fly RC gliders out at Sunset St beach are breakin the law!  I used to fly my RC gliders there back in the day as well.