Bodega Head

Marine Sanctuary Protects a Dynamic Ecosystem The salt marshes in the extremities of The waters of the - whales, dolphins Bolinas Lagoon and are and porpoises ff. i#liffiift i,il,i Farallon Islands National Marine that ,, primarily tidal but are Sanctuary support a productive occur here, the also fed by f resh- composed of many California gray whale water streams and ecosystem rain run-off. Clams a variety is most often seen interrelated habitats and if,-ntn&lss,'Sxiv and crabs are of sea life. by the public. abundant, providing food for a variety of shelf and its The continental Gray Whale Migration creatures such as associated shallow waters are wider raccoons and shore- here than any other place along The gray whales' birds. Sccters, scriup at and other birds that the California coast. These waters yearly journey between nest on the Arctic are rich in nutrients and promote their arctic feeding tundra, winter in the marine grounds, and breeding bays and lagoons thriving concentrations of adjacent to the salt life at all levels of the food web, and calving sites in marshes. from microscopic plankton to killer Baja California lasts from December to The spray-swept whales. headlands and sea fishery June. The whales The region's rich $i.**isi#$$ffi clif fs of the Sanctuary resources include salmon, abalone, travel close to shore are both feeding and nesting areas. Many rockfish, clams and herring. Fish in their lengthy seabirds and marine an important food source for mammals nest and are ,,:iellrlii.i area's marine mammals and and can be breed mainly on the jslands, making lhe sea birds, and support extensive easily seen Farallons extremely c o mmercial and recreatior,,ml",f;,iffing from the Point 'iffi vital in the preserva- |;-id ^{ ^A^^;^^ ' Reyes heaciiancis anci !tUi I Ul J!/EVIgD oLlL/t^,,^la l industries. 'r as the northern other vantage points. elephant seal and the Varietv of Rich Hahitats storrrn-petrel. Gray whales make the 12,000 The Sanctuary contains , ,,'l'i,i -types, mile round trip from the Bering Sea ands numerous habitat atl of imp$,1ffi feeo. to Mexico nourished by their grouiiff$"fur which contribute to the riChness a fi#ik# extensive body fat. During summers n u m ber of"J4gffi .;'". t the area: ""'] and beauty of in the Bering Sea these magnificent and land anima{e: 0n"'" salt marshes and bays the beach, a'variety 'q creatures, that sometimes reach 50 of birds hunt sea life -Tidal several species are nesting areas for feet in length, primarily eat small exposed at low tide. and are vital for of coastal birds crustaceans and mollusks. Scavengers feed on the spawning of many fish that dead plants and animals washed later migrate to the sea. ashore, Rocky shores and beaches Pacific 0cean provide resting and breeding sites Beyond the tidelands is the ocean. FaraHon open for thousands of seals and sea North These relatively deep lions. but well-lit, rich waters are feeding ielp beds offer F A R ,rI S I,ANDS -Offshore AiL,I",O'N, grounds for cormo- food and shelter for a wide rants, gulls, petrels, assortment of organismi including fish and plankton- eating whales. sea urchins, smali crabs, kelp bass MiddlerFarallon

water in the Gulf of the Farallones-Deep is more oceanic in Southeast F arallon character. Of the many species of Seals and Sea Lions Startle Easily management, the population level has risen and the species is reestablishing itself over its former range. Breeding has graceful swimmers are present throughout the These resumed on Southeast Farallon Island; pups have been year on both the mainland and the Farallon Islands. The born there since 1972. playful the sea lions make noisy barking and behavior of More recently, small numbers of elephant seals have the most popular of marine mammals. them among been sighted on isolated beaches of Point Reyes National captive animals become accustomed to Although Seashore. Scientists expect that within several years the Adequate care should be people, this is not so in wild. breeding and pupping will commence on the Point safe distance for both the viewers'and taken to maintain a Reyes mainland. the animals'protection. For example, harbor seals are easily disturbed and will startle if approached closer than 300,000 Seabirds Breed on Farallons 200 yards. This sometimes causes females to become separated from or to abandon their pups. The most visible of the Sanctuary's inhabitants are its The northern elephant seal, which may reach 20 feet seabirds. The Farallon Islands contain the largest seabird in length and weigh 4 tons, is the largest pinniped. The colony in the continental - 12 species elephant seal, named for the males' large, fleshy nose, was totalling over 300,000 birds. Gulls, petrels and murres fill nearly exterminated by commercial hunters in the the air with their cries as they forage over the waters of mid-l9th century. As a result of improved protection and the Sanctuary.

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(Pelecanus occiden- talis) are recognized by their flight pattern: alternate flapping and gliding low over the water. On spotting prey, pelicans dive to snatch fish in their expanding pouches. The Farallon lslands and are important wintering grounds for pelicans, which nest on islands off southern California and Mexico.

The Point Reyes-Farallon lslands National Marine Sanctuary (shaded area) covers waters adjacent to the coast between Bodega Head, Rocky Point (south of Stinson Beach) and the Farallon lslands. lt encompasses approxirnately 948 square nautical miles. The coastal boundary follows the mean high tide line and seaward limit of Pointfieyes National-seashore. From Bodega Head to the Point Reyes headlands it extends 6 nmi. off shore. The Sanctuary includes the waters within 12 nmi. of the Farallon lslands and Noonday Rock as well as the area between the lslands and the mainland from the Point Reyes headlands to Rocky Point. lt also embraces Bodega, Tomales and Bolinas Bays, and Bolinas Lagoon. (One nautical mile equals approximately 1.15 statute miles.) Endangered species such as the brown pelican and and serve as examples of humanity's continuing concern for peregrine falcon are found there. Many species of the marine environment. waterfowl and shorebirds frequent the area, which lies The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- along the migratory flyway between the Arctic and Central tion manages the Point Reyes-Farallon Islands National and South America. Marine Sanctuary through its Sanctuary Programs Division. The marine sanctuary program emphasizes the protection Sanctuary Managed for All to Enjoy of special marine areas for the long-term benefit and enjoy- ment of the public. Research and educational programs are sense and majesty that this area brings The of wonder underway to improve our under- to people does not diminish with time. Its esthetic and recreational pleasures are experiences to be enjoyed and .., area's resources and to promote remembered by all who come to the Sanctuary. their wise use. The Point Reyes-Farallon Islands National Marine Sanctuary was established to protect an important part of "'}\,, our nation's marine resources. The Sanctuary, Point Reyes ,., National Seashore and Farallon National Wildlife Refuge '.r i:i;l are all crucial elements in our national ecological heritage rb '),o,

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Steller sea lions disease and virus The tulted puffin rl (Eumetopias iubatus) have been implicated (Lunda cirrhata) is a were first described in contributing to seabird 141h-15'/z in. in 1741 by Wilheim premature births. in height, often seen Steller, who called sitting upright on a them "lions" because sea cliff. They nest of their bellowing roar among the rock and leonine eyes. crevices, laying one Weighing up to egg and raising the r.t,*,.r 2200 pounds, I chick on fish brought these large t in from the sea. mammals are \ sometimes seen I "hauled out" on i rocky shores in good weather. Within fif- teen miles of shore they hunt for f ish, squid and crabs. Steller sea lions are declining in California waters. The reasons are unknown, although Sanctuary Programs Division Postage and fees paid Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management U.S. Department of the lnterior National Ocean Service lnt 417 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 3300 Whitehaven Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20235 'ffi (202) 634-4236 Point Reyes-Farallon Islands National Marine Sanctuary c1o Point Reyes National Seashore Point Reyes Station, California 94956 (4r5) 663-8016