Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

The Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is a federally protected marine zone managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Established in 1981, the sanctuary encompasses 3,295 square miles of open ocean, estuarine wetlands, and deep-sea canyon ecosystems. Its core operations focus on resource protection, wildlife conservation, environmental education, and extensive scientific research designed to safeguard threatened marine species, including blue whales, seabird colonies, and a world-renowned white shark population.