California Marine Sanctuary Foundation

🐋UPCOMING WORKSHOP! 🐋 Preventing Ocean Roadkill: Global Technologies for Reducing Ship Strikes and Vessel Disturbance for Vulnerable Cetacean Populations. Culture and Conservation: Fishing for Change 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Sat. November 10, 2024 Join Ocean Wise and California Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Marine Resource Protection Program Director, Jess Morten, for a workshop aimed at spotlighting existing programs and measures designed to mitigate the risk of ship strikes on vulnerable #cetacean populations - like the Protecting Blue Whales Blue Skies program, while also examining their limitations, hurdles, and lessons learned. The workshop seeks to foster innovation, collaboration, and the development of networks to propel future initiatives in #shipstrike mitigation. The workshop is being held in Perth, Australia at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on 11/10 from 9am-1pm. In-person and virtual attendance options are still available. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gvct2nyR

VOTE! 🦞 ¡VOTE! 🦈 VOTE! 🐋 ¡VOTE! 🦀 Vote early, in person now through November 4th 🐚 Vote in person on Election Day, November 5th 🌊 If you're voting by mail, make sure your ballot is postmarked by November 5th To learn more about who and what is on your ballot, check out these resources below! https://lnkd.in/gKJhbF6Q https://lnkd.in/e8-D-K34 https://lnkd.in/gdDDA9a

Preventing poaching in marine protected areas (MPAs) is a challenge, especially when some ships can fly under the radar. “Because vessels under 24 feet are not required to transmit Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), a tracking system required for larger vessels, there is a gap in the ability to enforce small vessels. This is where the M2 program can help by monitoring small vessel activity around the clock.” – Anastasia Kunz, CMSF Marine Resource Protection Program Coordinator. Marine Monitors (M2), a novel technology created by Resources Legacy Fund, ProtectedSeas, and CMSF, utilizes shore-based radar with a high-definition camera to monitor vessel track lines in and around MPAs. This tool provides useful information to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Coast Guard, and the National Park Service that helps gauge compliance and enforce MPA guidelines. Learn more about the M2 program in our latest blog at https://lnkd.in/g4mjKzxJ!

🌊 Foam in Our Waterways: Natural or Not? 🌳🚿 Have you ever spotted foam on the surface of a stream or river and wondered what causes it? 🤔 Not all foam is created equal—some comes from nature, while other types may be linked to human activity. 🌿 Natural Foam often forms from organic compounds released by certain trees, like oaks and maples. As leaves, branches, and organic matter break down, these compounds mix with water, especially after rainfall or high winds, creating a bubbly, frothy layer on the water. 🚧 Human-Made Foam, on the other hand, could be a sign of pollution—especially in urban areas. Foam from wash water, wastewater, or stormwater runoff can carry detergents, surfactants, and other chemicals into our rivers and creeks. CMSF in collaboration with the Santa Cruz Environmental Health Lab is exploring this connection through recent sampling efforts to better understand its impact on water quality. #urbanwaterways #waterquality #naturalfoam #pollutionprevention #stormwater #protectourwaters Photo credit: (1,3,4) Lindsay Browm (2) Jeff Condit

💙 🌊 Tomorrow is #NationalMarineSanctuaryDay ! 🌊🩵 This year's theme focuses on youth leadership and activism for our ocean and Great Lakes, expanding access to sanctuaries for tourism and recreation, and arts and culture inspired by our protected waters. Tune into the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's Instagram Live (@marinesanctuaryfdn) at 8am and 11am PT for a discussion about science communication followed by a virtual roundtable with young ocean leaders! Hope to see you there! #ProtectWhatYouLove

This past Friday we celebrated the kickoff for our latest federal grant to increase community climate resilience in the Monterey Bay area! 🎉 The $71 million grant from NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management will fund the creation of the Monterey Bay Climate Action Adaptation Network (MBCAAN) to increase resilience in coastal communities against sea level rise, storm surges, river flooding, and wildfires. Over the next 5 years, CMSF will work with 21 partner organizations to increase coastal community resilience through 4 mechanisms: 1️⃣ Regional Collaboration and Capacity Building 2️⃣ Workforce Development 3️⃣ Flood Risk Reduction 4️⃣ Wildfire Risk Reduction A huge thank you to all who spoke and attended the event, and special thanks to Moss Landing Marine Labs for hosting us! If you are interested in learning more, check out the link below and make sure to follow along on our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages for updates. https://lnkd.in/gjFaJcDH #CoastalResilience #ProtectWhatYouLove #MontereyBay

On October 5, our board member Lora Lee Martin was awarded the Sea Star Award for her outstanding research contributions to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Congratulations, Lora Lee! Lora Lee’s leadership, advocacy, and expertise have significantly improved the capabilities of the Monterey Bay Research Crescent and have increased our understanding and protection of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and marine environments. To learn more about Lora Lee’s accomplishments, click the link below. https://lnkd.in/g25yQq4R #SeaStars2024 #MontereyBay #ProtectWhatYouLove

At CMSF, we believe that scientific data are an essential foundation for informed and effective conservation actions. In order to make better management decisions that protect our marine and coastal habitats, our state and federal agency partners need high-quality data. That's why CMSF's Marine Resource Protection team builds and maintains tools and technologies - like the eFINS data collection system used by enforcement partners throughout the state - that allow for improved data collection and analyses. 🧑💻 Learn more about about eFINs on our website: https://lnkd.in/g7QDVtm5 #ProtectWhatYouLove Photo credit: Erin Ristig

Did you know that most water pollutants like salts, nitrates, or pesticides can't be seen because they are dissolved in the water? Even though we can't see them, they impact the organisms living in water. For example: 🧪Algae use nitrates as a food source which can prompt algal blooms. 🧪Tiny invertebrates are impacted by pesticides which can influence their growth, reproduction, and life span. Monitoring water quality helps us learn whether we are allowing unsafe levels of contaminants to enter our waterways from agriculture, industry, or our own homes and gardens. Check out our website to learn more about how CMSF is #ProtectingOurWaters! https://lnkd.in/gHEg4jXK Featured Big Sur River, Andrew Molera State Park Photo credit: Pam Krone

Curious about the California marine protected area (MPA) petition process? Check out the new CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife's MPA Petitions StoryMap! https://lnkd.in/gHRAJ6v2 The StoryMap is a helpful tool for tracking the 20 petitions for changes to the CA MPA network and includes the 80 proposed changes visualized on an interactive map. #MPAMonday #ProtectWhatYouLove