A Call For Sanctuaries

One of my clearest memories from childhood: standing on a bluff at Fort Ross in Sonoma County, watching a pod of whales swim by.  That memory was a primary motivator in my decision to move back to California in 2007.  I wanted to see more whales. 

That desire has certainly been fulfilled, especially since we moved to Santa Cruz, which sits on the shore of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.  There is a deep canyon off shore which creates a nutrient-rich environment, attracting migrating whales and dolphins, as well as supporting sea otters, sea lions, seals and a vast array of birds.  Humpback and gray whales feed on anchovies, and orcas feed on the whales and seals and sea lions. 

It is almost too fantastic to believe.  Marina and Paloma and I were walking one foggy day and when we stopped at a bench, we were treated to the spectacle of thousands of pelicans, gulls, and other birds feeding, with humpback whales circling and rising vertically from the water in their midst, a slow and majestic appearance.

The life and abundance of the Monterey Bay is outstanding.  Here is a video I took on a recent walk during lunch: you will see birds and dolphins.

 

The preservation of these eco-systems is of fundamental importance.  With the increasing competition for resources, a measured policy to preserve the beauty of the oceans and the health of the fisheries is in our best interest, regardless of the emotional imperative to preserve this wonder.  This is why national marine sanctuaries are so important, and why we should make more of them.