Problem Statement:
Sanctuaries cannot function without the support of community partnerships. All sanctuaries work with Sanctuary Advisory Councils, community groups and agencies to provide support in reaching out to the community, and building stewardship.

A model that CBNMS would like the community to use is the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association (FMSA). The mission of FMSA is to protect the wildlife and habitats managed by Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary through promoting discovery, education and conservation. In 2000, FMSA coordinated more than 250 volunteers (38,500 volunteer hours) and provided more than $811,339 in programmatic support to GFNMS. As a nonprofit organization, much of FMSA’s work is undertaken with contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

The Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Association works in coordination with the Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary to enlist volunteers to monitor and protect fragile marine habitats; develop educational programs; offer Sanctuary field adventures and tours; publish newsletters; and create visitor centers, educational materials, and exhibits to enhance the public’s appreciation and enjoyment of the Sanctuary. Projects and programs include: Beach Watch, Emergency Response Planning, Beach Cleanups, California Harbor Seal Census and Monitoring Disturbance to Harbor Seals. This relationship between FMSA and GFNMS has been so successful that CBNMS would like to develop similar community partnerships to support new program development