Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, along with the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary have been designated as a Hope Spot, by Dr. Sylvia Earle’s organization, Mission Blue. Dr. Earle has been compared to figures like Jacques Cousteau and Jane Goodall owing to her decades of work and ability to reach a global audience. For Mission Blue to recognize the importance of Cordell Bank NMS is a high honor for the sanctuary.
Acting sanctuary superintendent, Danielle Lipski, Greater Farallones Association Executive Director, Monika Krach and CMSF’s board president, Dr. Gavin Chilcott have joined Mission Blue as Hope Spot Champions.
Dr. Earle 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 of 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 measure are called for. Putting a healthy ocean at the heart of the 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.“
Gavin Chilcott adds, “We are extremely pleased that the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary has been included in the Hope Spot designation. 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 the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and our partner organizations.”
