Natural Resources of the Bay
With its warm, nutrient-rich shallow waters, intertidal shorelines, shelter from waves, and relative protection from marine predators, San Diego Bay provides valuable habitat that serves as nursery, breeding, and resting grounds for an abundance of marine species. It is a critical stopover point for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway, and its extensive eelgrass beds support fisheries productivity unmatched by most habitats.
The Port is committed to preserving and improving a vibrant and healthy environment supporting an abundance of diverse natural resources throughout the San Diego Bay and tidelands. The Environmental Conservation department regularly coordinates localized and bay-wide monitoring efforts to gauge the status of natural resources throughout the Bay including eelgrass beds, bird species and fish surveys, as well as annual monitoring of sensitive and/or endangered species such as the California least tern, Ridgeway Rail and Green Sea Turtles.
The San Diego Bay supports the following:
- Over 300 species of marine and coastal birds
- Over 640 species of marine invertebrates
- Over 100 species of marine fishes
- Over 45 species of algae
- 11 federal/state threatened or endangered species and 50 special status species
- At least 4 species of marine mammals
- 823 acres of salt marsh habitat
- 978 acres of tidal flats
- 1,500-2,000 acres of eelgrass beds (annual fluctuation)
- 9,331 acres of mud and sand bottom assemblages in shallow to deep water
The following bay-wide monitoring reports are accessible through the “Monitoring Reports” link in the taskbar above:
- Annual California Least Tern Reports
- Annual Ridgeway Rail Propagation Program Reports
- Green Sea Turtle Monitoring Reports
- Bay-wide Eelgrass Surveys
- Bay-wide Fish Surveys
- Bay-wide Bird Surveys
What's Happening at the Port?
Maritime
Waterfront Development
As part of efforts to enhance our San Diego destination, the Port of San Diego is working to redevelop 55 acres of land and water on the eastern portion of Harbor Island overlooking the beautiful San Diego Bay. This site offers an unbeatable…
