Bay Nature Summer Dock Fouling Series: Pillar Point Harbor

Join Bay Nature and writer and naturalist Eric Simons for a dock fouling excursion at Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay on Friday, June 26 from 3:00–5:00pm. Inspired by Bay Nature’s Fall 2025 story “Finding Bugula,” this event invites participants to explore the strange and surprisingly colorful marine communities living just below the Bay Area’s docks and floating structures.

By carefully peering over the edge of the docks—or even lying flat on your stomach for a closer look—we’ll search for bryozoans, nudibranchs, sponges, tunicates, anemones, and other marine life thriving on pilings, floats, and submerged surfaces. Pillar Point Harbor offers a very different marine environment than the inner Bay, making it an ideal counterpoint to explore. This event is the second in a series of four Friday evening dock fouling outings taking place around the Bay Area this year, each offering a different mix of habitat, marine organisms, and waterfront atmosphere. Following the event, attendees are welcome to continue socializing informally at nearby harbor restaurants and gathering spots.

Details

• Location: Docks at Pillar Point Harbor (Map: 1 Johnson Pier, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019)
• Duration: ~2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy; participants should be comfortable standing, kneeling, leaning over docks, or sitting near the water’s edge
• Parking: Public parking available throughout Pillar Point Harbor
• Restrooms: Public restrooms available nearby within the harbor area

What to bring: Water, a towel or knee pad for leaning on the dock, hand lenses or waterproof cameras if desired, and comfortable close-toed shoes. Wear clothing you are comfortable getting slightly wet or dirty.

Weather note: Coastal conditions can be cool, windy, and foggy even in midsummer. Please dress warmly in layers and be prepared for changing weather.

Meet your guide: Eric Simons is a former digital editor at Bay Nature and author of The Secret Lives of Sports Fans and Darwin Slept Here. He is also coauthor, with Tessa Hill, of At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans.

Tickets: This event is free for Bay Nature members. Registration is limited.

Note: Because Bay Nature events often fill quickly with waitlists, registrants are asked to place a $10 refundable attendance deposit. Deposits are refunded after attendance and are forfeited only in the event of a no-show or cancellation. This helps ensure that limited spaces are available to those who can attend.

Additional information

• All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Dogs are not allowed on Bay Nature events
• Participants should be aware that floating docks may feel unstable or in motion
• Please use caution around the water’s edge and wear shoes with good traction

Photo by Lia Keener.