What Are Oceans Laws Trying to Protect?

By CLAIRE O'NEILL and MATT RUBY

These guys.

Garibaldi The state fish of California Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell
Two-spot octopus She has a name and it’s Nala Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell
Striped shore crab A mama crab, sitting on her eggs Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell

These are just a few of the residents living near the coast of California, in aquariums at the Catalina Island Marine Institute. In the surrounding waters, the state has designated marine protected areas that help wildlife like this propagate.

Around other nearby islands, some federal protections are now in question. These specific critters, found around Santa Catalina Island and photographed at the marine institute, may not be affected by potential rule changes — but the oceans don’t have walls.

Blackeye goby Forms permanent “harems” with one male to several females Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell
Bat star Cleans up after everyone by collecting algae and dead animals from the ocean floor Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell

Marine protections exist on many levels. William Douros, a regional director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says to think of them like parks: Your neighborhood park, a state forest and Yellowstone were created and operate in very different ways, but they share similar functions.

To the northwest of Catalina Island, the larger Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has federal protections like Yellowstone does.

Rainbow scorpionfish Produces a venom at the base of its dorsal and pelvic fins Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell
California sea hare It has both male and female reproductive organs Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell
Coronado sea urchin That is its mouth, made of five calcified tooth-like plates Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell

The sanctuary was designated by NOAA in 1980 and expanded by about 15 square miles during the administration of President George W. Bush. And it’s that expansion that is being reconsidered.

In June, the agency posted a notice, calling for public comment on a review of 11 national marine sanctuaries and monuments that have been created or expanded since 2007 — an area larger than the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Michigan combined. The window for public comment closes on Tuesday.

The review is part of President Trump’s strategy to encourage offshore energy exploration and production. (It is similar to another review of national monuments you may have heard about, like Bears Ears in Utah.)

Blue-banded goby Can change its sex back-and-forth within days depending on who’s available Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell
Mantis shrimp Can see things humans cannot, like the infrared and ultraviolet ranges Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell
Warty sea cucumber Known to expel most of its internal organs when threatened Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell

The area under review at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is very small relative to about 442,000 square miles under review at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in Hawaii.

But the whole review area is home to a lot of marine life.

What happens next? Comments left by the public will be read and weighed alongside an analysis of how much these areas cost to manage, and what stands to be gained in energy and mineral opportunity.

CO Sole After it is born, one eye migrates around its head to be with the other Alex Krowiak and Kate Powell