Protecting Our Oceans

Since 1972, vast tracts of our nation's oceans and coastal waters have been set aside as National Marine Sanctuaries. The San Francisco Area is fortunate to be surrounded by three of the 13 sanctuaries—Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, Cordell Bank Marine Sanctuary and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. While federal law protects these waters, federal funds to study their health and inhabitants are limited. At the same time, human population growth puts increasing pressure on the ocean and its resources. This means that the safeguarding of our marine sanctuaries has become an even more vital necessity.

The Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association (FMSA) is a non-profit membership organization created to increase public appreciation and guardianship of our ocean wilderness.

FMSA's mission is:

To protect the unique ocean environment beyond the Golden Gate, in partnership with the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, through education, outreach and stewardship.

Private contributions support FMSA programs in which volunteers from the community work in collaboration with marine sanctuary staff. This unique partnership helps expand and strengthen the Sanctuary mission of ocean protection, research, careful resource management, and public education.