WHEREAS, California’s iconic coastal and marine waters are one of the United States’ most precious resources, and as elected officials, it is our duty to ensure the long-term viability of California’s marine environment and thriving fishing, tourism, and recreation sectors; and
WHEREAS, Hundreds of millions of California residents and visitors enjoy the state’s ocean and coast for recreation, exploration, and relaxation; and tourism and recreation comprise the largest sector of the state’s $45 billion ocean economy; and
WHEREAS, The National Marine Sanctuaries Act authorizes the United States Secretary of Commerce to designate discrete areas of the marine environment that are of national significance for their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archaeological, and educational value; and
WHEREAS, California’s four national marine sanctuaries—the Channel Islands, Cordell Bank, Greater Farallones, and Monterey Bay—are held in the public trust for current and future Californians, and are integral to the United States’ National Marine Sanctuary system; and
WHEREAS, California’s national marine sanctuaries provide habitat to endangered whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, 180 fish species, 70 bird species, remote coral reefs, and one of the largest white shark populations in the world; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, the United States Secretary of Commerce, in response to widespread public support and participation, authorized the expansion of the Cordell Bank and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries; and
WHEREAS, The designation of national marine sanctuaries is guided by state, local, and tribal governments, members of the public, and other stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, Exploration for, or development or production of, oil, gas, or minerals is prohibited in California’s national marine sanctuaries, except as authorized for certain Channel Islands leases; and
WHEREAS, The values of the State of California include “historic diversity, scientific advancement, economic output, and sense of global responsibility,” and California’s national marine sanctuary system reflects and advances these values; and
WHEREAS, Healthy ecosystems provide improved water quality, air quality, and climate resilience and adaptability, which are vital priorities for the State of California; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate declares that the United States’ National Marine Sanctuaries are a national treasure that belong to all Americans and should be maintained for future generations; and that those protected federal waters off the coast of California are integral to the history, culture, economy, natural environment, and values of the State of California and for which California is globally renown; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate is committed to defending United States’ National Marine Sanctuary designations and expansions according to the national marine sanctuary designation process; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Governor of California, to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, to the Secretaries of the United States Departments of the Interior and Commerce, to the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and to each Member of the California State Legislature.