Levine to Seek Marine Sanctuary Status for Bay
Rep. Mel Levine (D-Santa Monica) said Thursday he will introduce legislation designating Santa Monica Bay as a national marine sanctuary. Levine said that he decided to carry the bill after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declined to declare the bay a marine sanctuary on its own. Levine said that a study by UC Santa Barbara justified the designation.
While the bay is now off limits to oil drilling, Levine’s office said that protection under the National Marine Sanctuaries Program would boost efforts to restore and preserve the bay’s ecological and recreational values.
Such a designation, Levine said, would also make the bay “a living classroom” for students and enhance the bay’s attraction to tourists.
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