The goals and objectives set forth by the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) direct each of the sanctuaries to take an ecosystem approach to management. Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary's (GFNMS) ecosystems include habitat structure, species assemblages, and ecological processes, as well as the many interactions with humans and their activities. GFNMS is developing an Ecosystem Protection program to expressly maintain an integrated perspective, while providing oversight in addressing the multitude of resource protection issues the sanctuary is currently facing. This will also anticipate and plan for new and emerging issues.

As directed by the NMSA, GFNMS's role is protection of the area's natural resource and ecosystem values by protecting the biodiversity, productivity and aesthetic qualities of the marine environment of the Gulf of the Farallones through ecosystem-based management. The goal of the Ecosystem Protection program is to maintain and where necessary, restore, the natural biological and ecological processes in Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary by evaluating and addressing adverse impacts from human activities on sanctuary resources and qualities.

Click here for a complete overview of GFNMS's Ecosystem Protection Program. (880K PDF)