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Resource Issues

The long coastline of the Sanctuary, including stretches of dense urbanization and four harbors, creates ample threats and opportunities for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Uses of the Sanctuary include transportation, recreational boating, fishing, scuba diving, surfing, research, whale watching, kelp harvesting, aquaculture, and waste disposal (sanitary discharges, dredge spoil disposal, cooling water disposal, industrial waste discharge). In addition, over 7000 square miles of watersheds immediately adjacent to the Sanctuary drain to its wetlands and marine waters.

In addition to its mandates for resource protection, research and education, MBNMS is also mandated to facilitate multiple use of the Sanctuary, provided those uses are consistent with the primary goal of resource protection. Protection of the ecosystem as a whole while facilitating multiple use requires many partnerships between the Sanctuary program, resource management agencies, scientists, businesses, educators, local communities and the public.

Resource management issues within the region are briefly described under the lists on the left, along with the Sanctuary's current involvement in the issue.

More information is available for the following Resource Management Issues:

Acoustic Impacts

Acoustic Impacts

  Climate Change

Aircraft, Model Aircraft, & Drones

  Climate Change

Climate Change

  Coastal Armoring and Erosion

Coastal Armoring and Erosion

 
Cruise ships

Cruise ships

  Desalination

Desalination

  Oil Spills & Emergency Response

Emergency Response
& Oil Spills

  Fishing and Harvesting

Fishing and Harvesting

 
Harbors and Dredging

Harbors and Dredging

  Introduced Species

Introduced Species

  Landslide and Debris

Landslide and Debris

  Marine Debris

Marine Debris

 
Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas

  Military Activities

Military Activities

  Motorized Personal Watercraft

Motorized Personal Watercraft

  Oil and Gas Development

Oil and Gas Development

 
Vessel Traffic

Vessel Traffic

  Whale Strikes

Whale Strikes

  Wildlife Disturbance

Wildlife Disturbance

   

 

Reviewed: July 18, 2024
Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service

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