Applied California Current Ecosystem Studies
The Applied California Current Ecosystem Studies (ACCESS) program delivers the science needed to protect one of the most productive ocean regions on Earth. By monitoring seabirds, marine mammals, zooplankton, and ocean conditions off the North-central California coast, ACCESS reveals how climate change and human activity are reshaping our ocean—and provides the data needed to safeguard it.
Through nearly 20 years of continuous research, Greater Farallones Association supports this collaboration among Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries and Point Blue Conservation Science, together monitoring the health of nearly 5,900 square miles of ocean. ACCESS’s long-term data are vital for understanding the complex relationships between ocean conditions, wildlife populations, and human impacts.
Turning Science Into Conservation Action
ACCESS science drives real-world change—guiding policies and management strategies that protect wildlife, reduce conflicts, and build a more resilient ocean.
Our data informs solutions that:
- Save whales from ship strikes. ACCESS data help identify critical whale habitats and inform vessel speed and route changes that protect endangered and threatened blue, fin, and humpback whales.
- Reduce whale entanglements. By identifying areas of high entanglement risk, ACCESS supports fishery management that minimizes bycatch in crab fisheries.
- Protect wildlife hotspots. ACCESS pinpoints biodiversity hotspots, helping managers balance ocean use and conservation.
- Track ecosystem change. ACCESS develops ecosystem indicators that measure the ocean’s response to climate change and guide adaptive management and provides data for assessing the overall health of the sanctuary in NOAA’s Condition Report [link].
- Monitor ocean acidification. ACCESS tracks changes in water chemistry and biological response, advancing climate-smart conservation strategies.
Why It Matters
The data collected by ACCESS underpin some of the most important ocean protection efforts in California. These insights not only inform sanctuary management but also influence statewide and national conservation policy. Donor support ensures that this essential long-term monitoring continues—so scientists and decision-makers can respond to emerging threats, protect endangered species, and keep our ocean ecosystems thriving for generations to come.
