Swim California Highlights the Power of Ocean Conservation in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
Meet Catherine Breed Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 4:00 pm, Westside Regional Park and Campground, Bodega Bay, CA.
As endurance swimmer Catherine Breed passes through the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary during her historic 900-mile Swim California journey, she shines a spotlight on one of the most biologically rich and inspiring stretches of coastline.
Her swim celebrates the Greater Farallones Hope Spot, part of Mission Blue’s global network of places recognized for their extraordinary marine biodiversity and the collaborative efforts working to protect them. More than an athletic achievement, Swim California highlights how healthy marine ecosystems are sustained through science, stewardship, restoration, and community partnerships.
Stretching along California’s north-central coast, the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary provides critical habitat for whales, seabirds, sharks, salmon, bull kelp forests, and countless other marine species. These protected waters also support coastal communities whose economies and cultures are deeply connected to a healthy ocean.
For more than three decades, the Greater Farallones Association (GFA) has partnered with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to conserve these extraordinary waters through foundational science, immersive education, innovative restoration, and community stewardship. From restoring bull kelp forests along the Sonoma and Mendocino Coast to engaging thousands of students in marine science through LiMPETS and supporting generations of Beach Watch volunteers, GFA helps build a resilient marine ecosystem.
“Every mile of Catherine’s journey through the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary tells a story of conservation,” said Monika Krach, Executive Director of Greater Farallones Association. “She swam past beaches monitored by generations of Beach Watch volunteers, through waters where we’re restoring bull kelp forests, and in one of the world’s most productive marine ecosystems. We’re proud to help share the stories of the people and partnerships working to protect this extraordinary place.”
Throughout her journey, Catherine highlights the organizations and communities dedicated to protecting California’s coastline. Her visit to the Greater Farallones Hope Spot underscores how decades of marine protection have helped sustain marine biodiversity.
“One of the most hopeful things we can learn from the Greater Farallones Hope Spot is that when we protect the ocean and give it room to recover, nature can respond,” said Catherine Breed. “Mission Blue connects this extraordinary place to a global movement, Greater Farallones Association brings the science, education, and stewardship to life, and Blue Frontier helps turn that knowledge into public action. Together, they demonstrate exactly what Swim California is about: connecting people to the ocean and celebrating working every day to protect it.”
Swim California serves as a reminder that protecting our ocean is a shared responsibility. Through partnerships among scientists, educators, volunteers, Tribal communities, conservation organizations, and coastal residents, the Greater Farallones Association continues to demonstrate what is possible when people work together to protect and restore our blue planet.
Visit GFA’s Public Programs & Events page to meet Catherine Breed and learn about her partnership with Greater Farallones Association.
Photo Credit: Swim California