West Coast Region
The West Coast Regional office of the national marine sanctuaries manages 12,843 square miles of marine protected areas around the Channel Islands, Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, Monterey Bay and Olympic Coast. Each of our five west coast national marine sanctuaries is a jewel unto itself. Yet each of our sanctuaries is intimately connected not only with the others, but also to the entire coast from Alaska to Baja and to the far reaches of the world ocean via ocean currents.
The links on this page will take you on a tour of the west coast sanctuaries where you will discover more exciting news about the work we do to keep our marine sanctuaries safe and thriving. For additional information, including videos and still images, about the amazing natural resources protected by these sanctuaries, visit the Encyclopedia of the National Marine Sanctuaries.
West Coast Field Guide
The West Coast Field Guide introduces you to the natural and cultural wonders of your national marine sanctuaries. The California current, many marine species, and historic ocean uses all connect these sanctuaries to each other, and to the human communities on the west coast. To view an electronic version of the West Coast Field Guide, click here.
Seabirds
The five national marine sanctuaries on the west coast are home to the largest concentrations of seabirds in the contiguous United States. Seabirds, including shorebirds, serve as indicators of ocean health within national marine sanctuaries. This is one of several reasons why national marine sanctuaries invest hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to better understand these creatures, protect them and educate the public about them. Recently, we developed a new brochure on seabirds to provide information on the importance of seabirds, research conducted on seabirds, and how to reduce human disturbance to seabirds. In addition, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, in cooperation with Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, have established the California Seabird Protection Network.
Maritime Heritage
The West Coast Region seeks to support research into human connections to the sea that include indigenous native cultures, seafaring traditions and the discovery and protection of maritime heritage resources. Today indigenous people continue their seafaring cultural activities that include building traditional watercraft and traversing sanctuary waters. Maritime heritage resources such as shipwrecks, and those objects which remain in place to remind us of historic activities such as lighthouses, historic wharves, docks and piers, populate the coastline from the State of Washington to California. Please visit the West Coast Region's maritime heritage webpage for more information.
Ocean Observations in West Coast Sanctuaries
The West Coast Observations network is comprised of 36 instrumented mooring arrays located at long term monitoring or sentinel sites within the five sanctuaries. The moorings collect information on ocean temperature at multiple depths. In certain locations, current speed and direction, oxygen, salinity, turbidity, and fluorescence along with meteorological information is also collected. Access the archived mooring data directly.
In addition to fixed moorings, the sanctuary program's sister vessels R/V Fulmar and R/V Shearwater, collect and transmit oceanographic and meteorological data in near real time. See an interactive map of the latest vessel locations and recent data reports.
The information from these platforms is archived in an IOOS compatible format and is fed into the NOAA-wide PaCOOS project which will help decision makers with resource management authority, including the sanctuary program, in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem.
Management Plans
Management plans are site-specific documents that the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries uses to manage individual sanctuaries. Management plans:
- articulate visions, goals, objectives, and priorities for an individual sanctuary;
- summarize existing programs and regulations;
- guide preparation of annual operating plans;
- guide management decision making;
- ensure public involvement in management
processes; and
- contribute to attaining national system goals and
objectives.
The ONMS is required to review management plans on a periodic basis. The four national marine sanctuaries offshore California completed the first management plan review (MPR) process in 2008, while Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary completed their first MPR process in 2011.
Final documents for the jointly conducted MPR process for Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Monterey Bay national marine sanctuaries, are available in pdf format.
For information on the MPR at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, click here. And, for information on Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary MPR, click here.
Sanctuary Advisory Councils
A Sanctuary Advisory Council is a community-based organization of representatives from various user groups, local businesses, government agencies and the public at large. Advisory councils provide advice to their respective sanctuary superintendents on management of that particular sanctuary. West Coast Region staff generated a report to highlight the major actions taken by each advisory council. This report was prompted by an advisory council member as a means to build networking opportunities between advisory councils. This document will also provide the public easy access to significant efforts taken by advisory councils. This document will be updated on a quarterly basis.
SIMoN
Comprehensive, long-term monitoring is a fundamental element of resource management and protection. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Research Program monitors ecosystem resources through SIMoN, the Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network. SIMoN, now expanded to Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, is an integrated, long-term program that takes an ecosystem approach to identify and understand changes in each Sanctuary. It provides resource managers with the information needed for effective decision-making and integrates ongoing efforts at the over 30 regional marine research institutions.
Condition Reports
The National Marine Sanctuary Program Condition Reports provide a summary of resources in each sanctuary, pressures on those resources, the current condition and trends, and management responses to the pressures that threaten the integrity of the marine environment. Specifically, the reports include information on the status and trends of water quality, habitat, living resources and maritime archaeological resources and the human activities that affect them.
 | Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary contains spectacularly rich and diverse marine life. With a variety of habitats including kelp forests, sandy bottom, and open ocean, it is home to diverse fish and invertebrate communities, serves as part of the migratory route of whales... more |
 | Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an extremely productive marine area off the west coast of United States in northern California. With its southern-most boundary located 42 miles (68 km) north of San Francisco, the sanctuary is entirely offshore, with the eastern boundary six miles... more |
 | Located off the central California coast and encompassing 1,255 square miles, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary protects a diversity of highly productive marine habitats and supports an abundance of species. It is a complex system of bays, estuaries...more |
 | Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the second largest national marine sanctuary and the largest marine protected area in the continental United States. Within the boundaries of the sanctuary is a rich array of habitats... more |
 | Designated in 1994, the sanctuary's mission is to protect the Olympic Coast's natural and cultural resources through responsible stewardship, to conduct and apply research to preserve the area's ecological integrity and maritime heritage, and to promote understanding through public outreach and education...more |
LiMPETS
LiMPETS (Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students) is an environmental monitoring and education program for students, educators, and volunteer groups throughout California. As part of this network, teachers and students collect rocky intertidal and sandy beach data.
Ocean Acidification
In August 2011 the West Coast Regional Office published the National Marine Sanctuaries of the West Coast Ocean Acidification Action Plan. This plan was produced in response to the five west coast sanctuary advisory council resolutions calling for some form of action on the topic of ocean acidification. In September 2012 the Effective Practices for Communicating Ocean Acidification Workshop was held in Monterey, CA. The 90 participants, through panel discussions and break out groups, identified the most effective messages, tools, and case studies to communicate the impacts of ocean acidification and foster positive public action. A workshop summary has been produced, which outlines the key messages, tools, and outcomes.
Ocean Etiquette
The west coast sanctuaries are renowned for their abundance of wildlife and it is important we know how to properly interact with that wildlife. Please visit the Ocean Etiquette website for general marine wildlife viewing guidelines that help promote safe wildlife viewing.
Thank You Ocean
The ocean is vital to life and touches us every day. The ocean gives so much to California: food, water, commerce, recreation, and the opportunity for quiet contemplation. Even medicines that heal us and the air we breathe come from the ocean. Yet, today the ocean is in trouble. Our ocean faces threats of pollution, marine debris, endangered populations, beach erosion, and more. You can help. By learning about the ocean, getting involved in ocean activities and voicing your opinion to lawmakers, you can join the millions of Californians who are saying, "Thank You, Ocean!"
WCRO Contact Information:
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
West Coast Regional Office
99 Pacific Street, Bldg. 100, Suite F
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 647-1920
Nicole.capps@noaa.gov
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