CHANNEL ISLANDS : Sanctuary’s Role in Economy Studied
A fellowship recipient has begun a federally funded study to determine how much the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary contributes to the local economy through fishing, boating and other commercial activities.
The yearlong project will also recommend ways the sanctuary can increase its contribution through heavier uses that do not harm its environment.
The project is supervised by Julie A. Reynolds, who received a California Sea Grant fellowship. The sea grant program is funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which governs the sanctuary.
The aim of the study is to show that a national marine sanctuary can be managed in a way that protects the environment while contributing to the local economy. Information gained in the study will be applied to seven other national marine sanctuaries.
The sanctuary, designated in 1980, includes 1,252 square miles of water surrounding Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara islands.
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