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The Channel Islands National
Marine Sanctuary encompasses 1252 square nautical miles of near
shore and offshore waters surrounding the northern Channel Islands
(San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa Islands) and Santa
Barbara Island. The area was designated as a sanctuary in 1980 in
accordance with Title III of the Marine Protection, Research and
Sanctuaries Act.
Objectives and recommendations
set out in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Department
of Commerce, 1980) have guided management through its initial years.
The Management Plan updates the goals and objectives for the sanctuary
(Section 1) and prescribes programs for the next five years.
Located from 8 to 40 nautical
miles off the southern California mainland, the sanctuary provides
secluded and relatively undisturbed habitat for abundant and diverse
marine life. The waters are considered critical feeding grounds
for six species of seals and sea lionsìone of the largest and most
diverse populations of pinnipeds in the world. Whales, dolphins,
large colonies of breeding seabirds, and extensive kelp forest communities
also contribute to the uniqueness of the area. The sanctuary supports
several important commercial and recreational fisheries and is the
setting for other activities such as diving, sailing, and nature
viewing.
The biological and human significance
of the sanctuary is described in Section 2 of the management plan.
The status of resources and uses, and current management concerns
are also discussed. To address management concerns, the Sanctuary
Programs Division has initiated programs for interpretation, research,
and surveillance and enforcement with the National Park Service
at the Channel Islands National Park, and for surveillance and enforcement
in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Game.
Guidelines for continuing management
and determining future programs are provided in Section 3. These
guidelines ensure that all actions undertaken over the next five
years resolve important issues, meet sanctuary objectives, and are
a step towards realizing the long-term resource protection goal.
Improving the level of protection of resources in the channel Islands
National Marine Sanctuary depends on several factors, including
the size and characteristics of the marine area, uses and events
in adjacent areas, and visitor needs. An analysis of issues and
concerns currently affecting management of the sanctuary is presented
in Section 3. The results of this analysis are immediate and foreseeable
actions that form the basis for the three general program areas
of the plan: resource protection, research, and interpretation.
The resource protection program
calls for identifying the areas, resources, and activities within
the sanctuary most in need of attention. Measures include formalizing
certain policies for surveillance and enforcement, and improving
the coordination of schedules and reporting procedures. Other resource
protection initiatives include a public and industry outreach program
to increase awareness of sanctuary regulations, and a collaborative
program to monitor and possibly reduce accidental and chronic pollutant
discharges in and adjacent to the sanctuary.
Included in the research program
are general topical directions and administrative procedures aimed
at ensuring that research projects address management issues. Projects
that have been identified for upcoming years include several on-going
studies for pinnipeds, a baseline study for cetaceans, a resource
mapping effort, and the design and implementation of monitoring
programs for resources and visitor use.
Continuing the work already
accomplished in cooperation with the National Park Service, several
initiatives are aimed at increasing marine interpretation within
the sanctuary, at the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center
in Ventura, and at other mainland locations. Improvements include
additional publications and exhibits, interpretive talks during
special and regular tours to the islands, and interpretive facilities
at Santa Barbara or Los Angeles, The plan also provides an administrative
framework which recognizes the need for cooperation and coordination
for effective management. Roles and responsibilities relating to
resource protection, interpretation, research, and general administration
are assigned to the Sanctuary Programs Division of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Sanctuary Manager and
staff, the National Park Service, and the California Department
of Fish and Gameìall key participants in the management of the Channel
Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The emergence of new issues and
other unforeseeable factors may affect specific aspects of sanctuary
management as described in this plan. However, the overall goals,
management objectives, and general guidelines will continue to be
relevant. Throughout the next five years, the aim is to carefully
adjust the plan to changing circumstances and possibly expand it
with new programs in light of the experience gained in actual management
and with the support of other agencies and the public.
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