[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 18747]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CORDELL BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY: IN HONOR OF ITS 15TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to recognize and share with 
my colleagues an important milestone for Cordell Bank National Marine 
Sanctuary. The sanctuary will observe its 15th anniversary on October 
2.
  Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary was established in 1989 when a 
House joint resolution was signed by the President. I was pleased to be 
an original cosponsor of the resolution which was sponsored by 
Congressman Doug Bosco.
  The sanctuary encompasses 530 square miles of marine waters, off the 
coast of Point Reyes National Seashore, about 45 miles north of San 
Francisco. The boundary includes a unique granite bank, the Cordell 
Bank, and is located along the continental shelf.
  The sanctuary encompasses exceptional and diverse marine life, both 
above and below the surface, providing a home for resident marine 
species and a destination feeding ground for many migratory marine 
mammals, fish and seabirds.
  Twenty-six marine mammal species live in the waters of Cordell Bank 
National Marine Sanctuary as do over 250 fish species. It is among the 
most important feeding grounds in the world for the endangered Humpback 
and Blue whales. It also serves as a crucial foraging area for 
resident, migratory and seabound birds. In fact, Cordell Bank National 
Marine Sanctuary is otherwise known as the ``Albatross capital of the 
Northern Hemisphere.''
  In the 15 years since the sanctuary was established, threats to the 
Cordell Bank and other points along our coast have grown. California's 
population has continued to increase near the coast, and oil and gas 
exploration proposals continue to threaten our marine ecosystems.
  Because of these threats, I believe preserving and celebrating our 
protected areas off the California coast is particularly important. 
Since the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary was established, the 
sanctuary's resources have grown with it, providing better protection 
for the sanctuary's future. Staff has increased from one to five and a 
half full time employees. The staff now has an office, a sea-bound 
vessel, monitoring programs, an advisory council and a new management 
plan to serve the sanctuary and its mission into the future.
  I applaud everyone who has worked to protect the marine ecosystems of 
the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and I wish the sanctuary 
staff and volunteers many years of ongoing success in protecting the 
California coastal environment. Please join me in celebrating the 15th 
Anniversary of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

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