Notice of Initiation of Joint Review of Management Plans/Regulations for the Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries; Intent To Prepare Draft Environmental Impact Statements and Management Plans; Scoping Meetings

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Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS) was designated in 1989 and encompasses 526 square miles of open ocean off Point Reyes, California. Cordell Bank is a submerged island that reaches within 120 feet of the ocean surface. The upwelling of nutrient rich ocean waters and the bank's topography create one of the most biologically productive areas in North America. The present management plan was completed in 1989. Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) is located along the California coast west of the San Francisco Bay area. It was designated in 1981 and encompasses 1,255 square miles. The Gulf of the Farallones is rich in marine resources, including spawning grounds and nursery areas for commercially valuable species, at least 36 species of marine mammals, and 15 species of breeding seabirds. The present management plan was completed in 1987. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) stretches along 276 miles of the central California coast and encompasses 5,328 square miles of coastal and ocean waters. It was designated in 1992 and contains many diverse biological communities, including sandy bottom and rocky outcrop habitats, the nation's largest exp