National Marine Sanctuaries Agenda Item B.2.b Supplemental NMS PowerPoint April 2013 Maria Brown Sanctuary Superintendent Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) Dan Howard Sanctuary Superintendent Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS) April 6, 2013 Portland, OR PFMC meeting
Proposal for Expansion NOAA is considering extending the boundaries of the two sanctuaries from Bodega Bay (Sonoma County) to Alder Creek (Mendocino County) and beyond the edge of the continental shelf. NOAA proposes to extend existing sanctuary regulations and nonregulatory programs from each sanctuary into the proposed expansion area.
National Marine Sanctuaries Mission The mission of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries is to serve as the trustee for the nation's system of marine protected areas, to conserve, protect, and enhance their biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural legacy.
Existing National Marine Sanctuaries in California Cordell Bank Established 1989 529 sq miles Gulf of the Farallones Established 1981 1,279 sq miles
Critical Ecosystem Connectivity
Animation produced by: U.C. Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory
Goals for Expansion Incorporate the relevant ecosystem components for Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones national marine sanctuaries Augment protection of resources in these areas from human threats. Provide mechanisms to conduct and coordinate research and monitoring in the new areas. Expand education, outreach and volunteer programs to promote stewardship.
How We Got Here In 2008, the joint management plan for CBNMS and GFNMS recommended that sanctuary managers facilitate a public process in the next five years to ensure that current boundaries were inclusive of the area s natural resource and ecological qualities. Since 2003 Sanctuary Advisory Councils from both sites have regularly discussed the boundary expansion alternative and have expressed support for boundary expansion when proposed by local congressional members (Representative Lynn Woolsey and Senator Barbara Boxer have introduced legislation since 2004 to expand the sanctuaries boundaries).
Common Prohibited Activities Neither sanctuary regulates fishing Oil and gas exploration and development Discharges Seabed alteration or construction Placing or abandoning structures Taking/possessing any marine mammal, sea turtle, or seabird Moving, removing, or injuring historical resources
Extent of Sanctuary Regulations Sanctuary prohibitions can apply throughout the entire boundary. For example, oil and gas exploration and development is prohibited throughout both CBNMS and GFNMS. Sanctuary prohibitions may apply in specific areas where specific resources warrant additional protections. For example, Tomales Bay has no-anchor zones in eel grass beds. Anchoring is allowed outside those areas throughout GFNMS.
Non-Regulatory Sanctuary Program Areas Research-Collects information on the health of wildlife and habitats Education-Provides experiences to connect people to the ocean Sanctuary Advisory Council-Advises the Sanctuary on management priorities Volunteer Programs- Involves the public in protecting the sanctuary and educating others about its wildlife and habitats Resource Protection- Ensures sanctuary resources are protected against pollution, harm to wildlife, and destruction of habitat while allowing people to enjoy the sanctuary
NOAA s Proposed Timeline For this Process 1. Scoping 2. Draft Proposal 3.Public Comment 4.Publish Decision NOAA solicits comments on the proposal; NOAA reviews the comments to determine the scope of the issue and to identify issues to be addressed during the environmental analysis. Release Draft EIS, revised site management plans and proposed regulations. Public review and comment on Draft EIS, proposed rulemaking, and related documents NOAA prepares and releases a Final EIS and related documents, including a response to public comments, with a final rule if appropriate. March, 2013 Winter, 2014 Winter/Spring, 2014 Summer, 2014
Range of Comments 300 on-line comment letters and hundreds of oral comments Considerable public support for expansion and various regulatory and non-regulatory Sanctuary programs Strong support for ban on oil and gas development Support for sanctuaries not regulating fishing activities Issues raised by public/agencies warranting further review: Location of boundaries MPWC use Protecting wildlife from low flying aircraft Alternative energy Gathering of sea salt
Contact Information Maria Brown: maria.brown@noaa.gov NOAA GFNMS 991 Marine Drive, The Presidio San Francisco, CA 94129 Dan Howard: dan.howard@noaa.govdan.howard@noaa.gov NOAA CBNMS P.O.Box 159 Olema, CA 94950 http://farallones.noaa.gov/manage/northern_area.html