Announcing Champions for Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Hope Spots

August 13, 2025

Header Image: Giant Pacific octopus stretching out on Cordell Bank with schooling rockfish in the background. Image: Rob Lee.

[SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA] – Off the coast of Northern California lie two federally recognized National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS), the Greater Farallones NMS and the Cordell Bank NMS. These distinct but interconnected sanctuaries are known for their exceptional biodiversity, and the critical role they play in sustaining the health of the California Current. 

Today, Mission Blue is proud to announce the new Champions for the existing Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Hope Spot and new Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Hope Spot.

 

Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue, celebrates the addition of the sanctuaries to the Hope Spot network, sharing, “The Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries embrace over 4,500 square miles of ocean just outside the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco, California.” She continues, “There is hope in the resilience of this cold water environment and even greater vigilance in protective measures are called for. Putting a healthy ocean at the heart of decision making is essential so that effective protection of coastal marine carbon cycles, sinks, and reservoirs can help mitigate the effects of climate change and support biodiversity.”

Building on this vision, a powerful team dedicated to the continued protection of this region have joined as Hope Spot Champions: Danielle Lipski, Acting Superintendent of the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries; Monika Krach, Executive Director of the Greater Farallones Association (GFA); and Gavin Chilcott, Board President of the Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF). Together, they are dedicated to deepening protection and public awareness of the region’s ecological richness.

“Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries are nationally significant places with incredible productivity and biodiversity. We work with partners and communities to  conserve these ecosystems, as well as the rich maritime history, to ensure they continue to thrive. We are thrilled to have both sanctuaries recognized by Mission Blue as Hope Spots to provide inspiration and motivation for ocean conservation,” shares Danielle Lipski.

Originally established in 1981 to protect breeding seabirds, the Greater Farallones NMS was designated a Mission Blue Hope Spot in 2015 and is included within the Golden Gate Biosphere Network designated by UNESCO. In 2021, the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank NMS were administratively combined under one management team. This evolution underscores the growing recognition of their interconnected ecosystems. The Greater Farallones NMS stretches north and west of San Francisco Bay, from the Farallon Islands up to Point Arena, while the Cordell Bank NMS lies entirely offshore, encompassing Bodega Canyon and the continental slope ecosystem west of Cordell Bank.

Monika Krach, Hope Spot Champion and Executive Director of GFA adds, “The California coast is one of only four deep-water upwelling areas on Earth, making it one of the most diverse and productive ocean ecosystems on the planet. It attracts animals from all corners of the Pacific Ocean, migrating vast distances to feed in its nutrient-rich waters. Greater Farallones Association is proud to be a steward of this extraordinary region, vital to the health and resilience of our shared ocean.” 

Greater Farallones Association supports the sanctuaries’ long-term conservation goals through habitat restoration, scientific monitoring, community science, and environmental education. GFA and Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary lead hands-on restoration efforts across the region. One of the most urgent challenges they are addressing is the dramatic loss of kelp forest cover —some areas within the sanctuary have seen declines of over 90% in the past decade. In response, GFA’s Kelp Restoration Program combines targeted urchin removals with innovative methods to reintroduce bull kelp cultivated in labs to restoration sites, supporting the recovery of these essential coastal forests. 

Together, the two sanctuaries form Hope Spots that encompasses over 4,500 square miles of the Pacific Ocean’s California Current, a marine ecosystem recognized by marine scientists as a highly productive upwelling zone. This region supports regular plankton blooms, a rich diversity of invertebrates, local and migratory fishes, seabirds, marine mammals, migratory leatherback sea turtles and one of the world’s largest populations of white sharks. 

“We are extremely pleased that the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary has been included in the Hope Spot designation,” says Dr. Gavin Chilcott, Hope Spot Champion and Board President, CBSF. “Cordell Bank and its surrounding waters are vitally important to regional ecosystems, migratory animals and wildlife population recovery. Designation as a Hope Spot is a valuable means of increasing awareness of Cordell Bank’s importance to a wider audience. We believe the Hope Spot designation will help us amplify our foundation’s support for conservation activities conducted by Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and our partner organizations.” 

Climate change is a primary threat to the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank Hope Spots, affecting ocean temperatures, upwelling patterns, species distribution, and water quality, which threaten marine life and ecosystem services. The area also struggles with historic land-based pollutants, growing marine debris, ship strikes to whales, and disturbances to seabirds and pinnipeds. 

This coastline’s deep maritime history adds further richness to its story. For more than 11,000 years, Indigenous peoples have lived in close relationship with these waters. Later, waves of explorers and settlers—from the English, Spanish, Mexicans, and Russians to the Chinese and Italians—traveled these coasts for trade, subsistence, and settlement. Today, industries such as shipping, fishing, research, and military activities continue to shape the regional economy.

With its expanded recognition, the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank Hope Spots invite renewed attention, care, and celebration of one of Earth’s most extraordinary marine ecosystems.

About Greater Farallones Association (GFA)

Greater Farallones Association conserves the wildlife and habitats of Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries through scientific research, habitat restoration, environmental education, and community-based conservation. Through high-impact programs rooted in science, we engage tens of thousands of adults and youth annually in ocean conservation, collect critical data and research on globally significant wildlife in our sanctuaries, and restore vital habitats, including kelp forests in the Greater Farallones NMS.

About Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF)

The Cordell Marine Sanctuary Foundation is dedicated to supporting the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We believe that through research, education, and public awareness of this unique and vital area, the sanctuary and its marine life can be protected for future generations.  Our mission includes: Supporting scientific research conducted in the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS) and surrounding areas; Supporting educational and outreach goals of CBNMS; Increasing public awareness of the CBNMS and its programs that include conserving, protecting, and enhancing the Sanctuary’s marine biological resources; Supporting partnerships and a strong network between CBNMS and environmental organizations, citizens and agencies.

About The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as a trustee for 18 underwater parks encompassing more than 629,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington state to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. By investing in innovative solutions, the National Marine Sanctuary System strengthens these iconic places to address 21st century challenges. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation’s iconic ocean and Great Lakes waters. 

About Mission Blue

Led by legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue is uniting a global coalition to inspire an upwelling of public awareness, access and support for a worldwide network of marine protected areas – Hope Spots. Under Dr. Earle’s leadership, the Mission Blue team implements communications campaigns that elevate Hope Spots to the world stage through documentaries, social media, traditional media and innovative tools like Google Earth. Mission Blue embarks on regular oceanic expeditions that shed light on these vital ecosystems and build support for their protection. Mission Blue also supports the work of conservation NGOs around the world that share the mission of building public support for ocean protection.