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1. OVERALL MANAGEMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT
During
the preparation of this plan, the Sanctuary Programs Division reviewed
various concepts and alternatives for management and development.
Options developed progressively through consideration of the constraints
and opportunities of the sanctuary's setting and through consultation
with the agencies participating in management.
The plan reflects the fact
that long-term protection of resources is the highest priority for
management. Improving the level of protection of resources in the
sanctuary will depend on several factors affecting the feasibility
of programs and actions under consideration. The most important
factors affecting management of the Channel Islands National Marine
Sanctuary relate to the size and characteristics of the marine area,
its regional context, communication needs for visitors, and the
need to share and coordinate the responsibility for comprehensive
management.
The Channel Islands National
Marine Sanctuary is the nation's largest designated sanctuary. Within
the area, concentrations of resources and people tend to vary considerably.
The plan prescribes management actions that are tailored to the
specific issues affecting different parts of the sanctuary. It recognizes
that a clear identification of resource issues is essential for
a responsive management approach. Assigning priorities based on
issues to different areas and resources is also necessary for a
cost-effective use of limited funds and staff distributed over the
entire sanctuary.
Understanding the life history
and ecological relationships of the many species found in the sanctuary,
knowing why they concentrate here, and how to protect them amounts
to a challenging task given the size and diversity of the area.
It is known that some species, such as the seals and sea lions,
are highly dependent upon the remoteness and relatively low levels
of disturbance in the sanctuary for breeding and other stages of
their life history. For this reason, introduction of on-site programs
has to proceed gradually and be synchronized with research aimed
at understanding the sensitivity to disturbance of marine mammals,
seabirds and other populations. The approach taken in the plan is
to rely on existing services and facilities rather than introduce
fixed or permanent structures until research confirms potential
impacts and carrying capacity.
The Channel Islands National
Marine Sanctuary is situated in a context of rapid change. Onshore
industrial development, vessel traffic, and OCS exploration and
development in the Santa Barbara Channel and areas immediately to
the north of the sanctuary are all expected to accelerate during
the coming decades. The trend of increasing recreational use of
sanctuary waters is also likely to continue. The implications of
these changes for the protection of sanctuary resources cannot be
predicted. However, problems can be detected at an early stage if
an effective monitoring program is in place. Monitoring conditions
in the sanctuary to detect significant changes in the status of
populations is therefore an important component of this management
plan. Being prepared to respond to major changes and emergencies
with the appropriate contingency plans is another aspect of planning
for a rapidly changing environment. The sanctuary thus provides
an opportunity to develop conservation strategies that work hand
in hand with adjacent industrial development as advocated by the
World Conservation Strategy, prepared by the International Union
for the Conservation of Natural Resources (IUCN, 1980).
The general public and various
organizations in southern California will play an important role
in attaining resource protection goals in the sanctuary. Communication
and education programs fostering public understanding and hence,
support for management objectives, are inherent to the plan's concept.
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary offers outstanding
opportunities for interpreting the marine resources of southern
California and communicating the need for careful use and management.
Effective communication will depend on publications, exhibits, and
special events that convey to a varied public the significance and
sensitivity of the sanctuary.
While the plan does not call
for the installation of interpretive facilities within the sanctuary,
it does address the need for increased on-site access and marine
interpretation. Efforts will be directed at providing more on-site
tours, initially only during certain seasons and in collaboration
with organizations already offering tours, to the sanctuary. New
exhibits are also being planned for installation on the NPS-managed
islands to improve visitors' appreciation of the marine resources
of the national park and national marine sanctuary.
Implementation of this plan
will entail cooperation and coordination among several agencies
including the California Department of Fish and Game (CF&G) and
the National Park Service (NPS). Information exchange, sharing facilities
and staff, and coordinating policies and procedures for resource
protection are recommended for all programs, including research
and interpretation.
The plan presents management
of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary for the next five
years. Over this time period, management initiatives will generally
fall into three basic program areas: Resource Protection, Research,
and Interpretation. In the section below, guidelines are provided
for identifying actions for these program areas that meet sanctuary
objectives and are a step towards realizing long-term resource protection
goals.
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