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Proposed Revisions to Introduced Species Regulations

NOAA Proposes Revisions to Introduced Species Regulations in Four Marine Sanctuaries in California

picture of invasive European green crab As a result of discussions between the California State Resources Agency and the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA is amending regulations of the marine sanctuaries at Monterey Bay, Gulf of the Farallones, Cordell Bank, and Channel Islands to reflect a single, consistent prohibition against introduction of non-indigenous species (plant and animal) into sanctuary waters. The federal prohibition will apply to both state and federal waters within the sanctuaries. Previous sanctuary regulations for introduced species were unique to each site, and their applicability to state waters varied from sanctuary to sanctuary. The proposed rule changes will produce more consistent and streamlined regulation of introduced species within all four national marine sanctuaries in California. To view the current Federal Register notice for the proposed regulatory revisions or to comment on that proposal, see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-03-18/html/2013-05994.htm.

In 2009, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries had proposed a unilateral revision of the introduced species prohibition for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, but the proposal was never finalized. The new proposal above supercedes that old proposal, so the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has issued a Federal Register notice to withdraw the earlier proposal from further consideration. To view that withdrawl notice or comment on the notice, see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-03-18/html/2013-06295.htm. For general information about introduced species (also referred to as invasive species), see http://www.sanctuarysimon.org/monterey/sections/other/invasives.php.

 

picture of invasive undaria kelp
Credit Steve Lonhart / NOAA MBNMS
Reviewed: September 08, 2023
Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service

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