Greater Farallones
National Marine Sanctuary
Multimedia Gallery

Witness thousands of seabirds, explore a tide pool, and get to know the famed white sharks of the California coast.

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a kelp forest

Kelp Restoration
many urchins on the seafloor

Urchin Barrens
A brown and white speckled fish

Critters of Greater Farallones
A sea star and sea urchins

Sea Stars in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
A spiky red sea cucumber on a rock

California Sea cucumber in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
An abalone and sea urchin between underwater rocks

Abalones in Greater Farallones National Marine
birds resting on marine debris in balinas lagoon

Restoring Bolinas Lagoon
A lush underwater forest of kelp

What's the Difference Between Bull Kelp and Giant Kelp?
An rov shines light on corals on a sandy seafloor

The Football
doghole port in use

Doghole Ports
woman sitting on a bench looking at the ocean

Emily Aiken
a woman holds up a photo of a sailor

Three Miles from Safety: The Story of the USS Conestoga
a man and a dog walk on a beach

Doubling Down on California's Marine Sanctuaries
Yellow fish swim near a shipwreck as an octipus hides in the debris

Shipwreck Explorers Encounter Giant Pacific Octopus
people in orange life vests on a raft photographing sharks

Gulf of the Farallones White Shark Research
The arm of an rov reaches toward a shipwreck

USS Conestoga
fishermen teaching a class of kids

Fishermen in the Classroom
close up of zooplankton

Zooplankton
researchers looking out for white sharks

White Shark Research
rocks on a coast

California Expansion

Virtual Reality & 360

Coming soon!

The Farallon Islands provide a dramatic backdrop to the highly productive and diverse marine ecosystem around them. Common murres can be seen nesting in colonies on the rocky cliffs and diving for food. Below the waves, a white shark takes center stage while sea lions swim among bull kelp forests. Other species offshore and along the rocky shore include Chinook salmon, blue rockfish, red abalone, sea stars, red and purple urchins, and pink encrusted algae.
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Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Poster

This poster features Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, located off the Northern Coast California. A special place for endangered species, sensitive habitats, historic shipwrecks, and cultural resources, this poster highlights the true beauty and importance of the waters surrounding Greater Farallones.

Illustration by Matt McIntosh/NOAA