June 19, 2015
Today NOAA announced an expansion of Northern California’s Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones national marine sanctuaries!
Each sanctuary is expanding to more than double its original size, broadening protections for some of the most productive marine ecosystems in North America. Within these sanctuaries one can find:
- the southern-most population of Stellar sea lions
- one of the world’s most significant populations of great white sharks
- blue, gray, and humpback whales
- elephant seals
- cold-water corals
- 25 threatened and endangered species
- 250,000 seabirds during the year
NMSF has supported this effort since the beginning, advocating before Congress, recognizing the political leaders who set the stage, funding underwater research expeditions, and providing grants to our local partners.
But our work continues. Today’s announcement creates momentum and sets an example for communities around the country that seek to nominate new national marine sanctuaries in the ocean and Great Lakes.
The announcement is a true victory for the National Marine Sanctuary System, coming after years of political leadership and widespread public support. More importantly, it’s a victory for you. National marine sanctuaries preserve ecological and culturally significant places in American waters so that you and I, and our children and grandchildren, can enjoy the best of our ocean and Great Lakes.