[CINC] NOAA Reports Threats to Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

[Shauna Bingham]

**

 

Contact:*    *Shauna Bingham, 805-729-3275                          *FOR 
IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*                        *John Ewald, 301-713-3066                 
                        September 9, 2009

* *

*NOAA Reports Threats to Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary *

 

A new NOAA report on the health of California's Channel Islands National 
Marine Sanctuary indicates that the overall condition of the sanctuary's 
marine life and habitats is fair to good, but identifies several threats 
to sanctuary resources, such as growing coastal populations, shipping, 
and climate change.

 

"The potential impact of global climate change on fragile sanctuary 
resources and habitats, and increased coastal growth, are issues of 
concern," said Chris Mobley, sanctuary superintendent.

 

Prepared by the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Channel 
Islands National Marine Sanctuary Condition Report, reviewed by outside 
experts, indicates that water quality is generally good due to the 
sanctuary's offshore location and distance from major urban population 
centers. However, over time, habitat quality and living resource 
conditions have deteriorated due to human encroachment, as well as 
changing ocean conditions and disease.

 

The sanctuary's maritime archaeological resources, such as shipwrecks, 
also face risks from looting, natural degradation, and damage from 
fishing gear and anchors.

 

NOAA formally began its stewardship of these resources in 1980. The 
report notes that many management and regulatory programs aimed at 
protecting and restoring resources are already in place and seek to 
improve conditions in the sanctuary.

 

For example, the sanctuary contains a network of 13 marine zones 
composed of 11 "no-take" marine reserves. There are two marine 
conservation areas where some fishing is allowed. These zones were 
established in state waters in 2003 and extended to the sanctuary's 
federal waters in 2007. Additionally, the sanctuary updated its 
management plan in January 2009, emphasizing ecosystem-based approaches 
to improving water quality, reducing vessel discharges, and focusing 
research on emerging threats to ocean ecosystem health.

 

Emerging or poorly understood threats present new challenges in 
assessing their impact on sanctuary resources. Global climate change is 
already impacting ocean chemistry, which is expected to affect marine 
biodiversity and biological productivity. Climate change is also 
resulting in increased seawater temperatures, changes in currents, and 
sea level rise all of which are showing signs of impacting fundamental 
changes in marine and coastal ecosystems. Rising population growth in 
adjacent cities and counties, vessel traffic, as well as air and water 
polluting activities outside the sanctuary's boundaries, are also a concern.

 

NOAA prepared the condition report based on consultations from outside 
experts that occurred in 2007. The full report is available online at: 
*http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition*.

 

            Managed by the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1980 to 
protect marine resources surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, 
Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands. The sanctuary spans approximately 
1,470 square miles, extending from island shorelines to six miles 
offshore, and encompasses a rich diversity of marine life, habitats and 
historical and cultural resources.

 

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from 
the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and 
manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit *http://www.noaa.gov*.

 

On the Web:

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: *http://channelislands.noaa.gov *

NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries: *http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov*

 

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-- 
Shauna Bingham 
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
3600 S. Harbor Blvd. #111
Oxnard, CA 93035
Shauna.Bingham at noaa.gov
(805) 382-6149 ext. 102
Fax (805) 382-9791
http://channelislands.noaa.gov

´¯`·.¸¸..><((((º>·´¯`·.¸¸..><((((º>·´¯`·.¸¸..><((((º>·´¯`·.¸¸..

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