What is an ecosystem? How does a sanctuary protect marine life?
An ecosystem is a community of animals and plants and the environment that supports those animals and plants. Within a sanctuary, the ecosystem includes all the living organisms, the ocean and its currents, the seafloor and shoreline, and the air and wind above. It may also include the freshwater watersheds that flow into a sanctuary and serve as spawning grounds for salmon and other fish species that travel between fresh and marine waters. Sanctuary managers rely on a variety of mechanisms to understand and protect the sanctuary’s living and historical resources. The National Marine Sanctuaries Act, along with site-specific designation legislation and regulations, provides the legal framework outlining the activities that are allowed or prohibited. Sanctuaries implement a permit system to regulate and oversee potentially harmful activities. This framework may be enhanced by the adoption of state and other federal laws and regulations. Another important resource protection tool for our
Related Questions
- Is there any danger from marine life such as sharks, barracudas, or jellyfish while swimming in the waters of the Sanctuary?
- What measures have been taken by the boat and the crew to protect the marine life in Milne Bay?
- How would the Regional Water Project protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary?
