Sanctuary Boundaries

The current boundaries of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary extend from mean high water to six nautical miles offshore from San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands. The issue of expanding the Sanctuary’s boundary was first raised by many people from southern and central California coastal communities during a series of seven management plan scoping meetings held in the Summer of 1999, and has been an issue of continued interest to numerous constituents. Based on an evaluation in 2000 of ecological connections in the Channel Islands marine region, a study area was established for the management plan revision process that extends beyond the Sanctuary’s current boundaries. CINMS then incorporated the possibility of a boundary change into the management plan review process.

Preliminary boundary concepts were developed in 2000 and 2001 by CINMS staff working in close consultation with the Sanctuary Advisory Council. Maps of these boundary concepts are found here. These preliminary boundary concepts range in scope from the existing boundary to an expansion to the coastal mainland extending from Point Sal in the north to Point Mugu to the south.

From 2003 through 2005 staff from NOAA’s National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) conducted a regionial biogeographic study that includes further analysis of a range of boundary options. Information on the study including a project description, work plan, data inventories, and presentations developed for the Sanctuary Advisory Council that summarize the study and its findings may be viewed by clicking here. 
The final report is available by web site download here.

After conclusion of the management plan revision process, a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will present and analyze boundary change alternatives (including the option of not changing the boundary). The supplemental EIS on boundaries will then be released for public comment, followed by a final agency determination on sanctuary boundary change.