NOAA's Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries

08/27/2026

"Cordell Bank was, for about ten years,...my obsessive driving interest to see this project through to the establishment of a national marine sanctuary." - Dr. Robert Schmieder

Dr. Robert Schmieder along with several other willing explorers, searched for and went diving on Cordell Bank in the 1970s and 1980s ! At the time, they were truly "backyard"🏠 pioneering explorers using their curiosity and sense of adventure 🧭. Their intrepid spirit and accomplishments led to the designation of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary in 1989. 🥇You never know where your curiosity will lead! Thanks to the Cordell Expeditions Explorers for their endeavors! You can read and listen about their experiences through the oral history that collected their stories.

https://cordellbank.noaa.gov/about/oralhistory.html.

Photo 1: Dive teams check in on Cordell Bank
Photo 2: Dr. Bob Schmieder giving the "ok" sign underwater
Photo 3. The Cordell Explorer, Bob's boat used for getting to Cordell Bank for diving
Photo 4. Newspaper clippings sharing the exiting findings from these "backyard" explorers
Photo 5. A diver approaches Cordell Bank
Photo Credits: Cordell Expeditions

08/25/2026

We have been hearing about lots of anchovy 🐟🐟 prey near shore, which has attracted some whales 🐋 to feed. If you are a boater⛴️ , check out the "See a Spout? Watch Out!" training and guidance so you know how to keep yourself safe and the whales safe!

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/visit/boating/see-a-spout.html

Photo: NOAA

08/21/2026

Opportunities to work for our sanctuaries!

Conserving the wildlife and habitats of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary through scientific research, environmental education, and community-based conservation.

08/18/2026

One week left to submit comments that help guide the management priorities for Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries. Shape the future 🗓️ of the sanctuaries with your input and help maintain ➡️ and improve ⬆️ these iconic ocean 🌊 sanctuaries for generations.

More info here: https://farallones.noaa.gov/manage/management-plan-review.html

photo credit: Lisa Carpenter

08/18/2026

We missed , but the sharks 🦈 did not miss it! Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary supports a healthy ocean 🌊 ecosystem that supports life from the microscopic 🔬 to the macroscopic 🐋 including a healthy population of white sharks that are essential to this ecosystem. Researchers have been studying the sharks here for decades 🗓️ and have learned a lot about age, timing, size, change over time and favorite spots. Check out the video to see our sharks!

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/earthisblue/wk51-white-shark-research.html

photo credit: Pete Winch

08/12/2026

Job Alert! Do you enjoy sharing your excitement for the ocean with others? The marine science education fellow will help at the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Visitor Center and gain valuable experience. A typical day could be setting up live plankton under the microscope for display, talking to visitors, setting up virtual reality headsets to take people to the sanctuaries virtually and so much more! The marine educator position will teach Ocean After School education programs with youth in San Francisco.
Check out the positions at this link: https://farallones.org/job-openings/

Photo: Justin Holl/NOAA

08/11/2026

Have you seen the new interpretive signs at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in San Mateo County? This lovely park is free to visit with wonderful views and vistas to hike to and enjoy the unique coastal geological features, maritime history, haul out areas for harbor seals, and rocky intertidal habitat. There are 12 new signs throughout the Reserve, Frenchman Reef Trail, and at the Pillar Point Bluff's Trailhead at the marsh. If you get to the coast please observe park rules and wildlife watching guidelines and if you see a sign with our logos, snap a pic and share on Instagram or Facebook and tag us!

Photo credits: JStock/NOAA

08/03/2026

07/30/2026

Our first three days operating from Sausalito brought changing weather, challenging sea conditions, and a mix of offshore and nearshore sampling around the Farallon Islands and Point Reyes. At times, opposing wind and swell created “square seas”—short, steep waves coming from different directions that made for a particularly rough and uncomfortable ride.

Bird activity was highest near the Farallon Islands, where large feeding flocks included western gulls, common murres, Brandt’s cormorants, brown pelicans, and sooty shearwaters. Many common murres were carrying fish near the islands, while closer to shore we observed numerous adult-and-chick pairs. Other highlights included black-footed albatrosses, northern fulmars, rhinoceros auklets, Cassin’s auklets, tufted puffins, pink-footed shearwaters, and Caspian and elegant terns.

Marine mammal activity was generally light but included blue and humpback whales, unidentified whales, California and Steller sea lions, a northern fur seal, harbor porpoises, and Dall’s porpoises bow riding during transit.

Our plankton samples contained pyrosomes, larval and small krill, phytoplankton, filamentous algae, ctenophores, salps, Thetys, an egg-yolk jellyfish, medusa fish, and two tiny sea stars.

We will round out the week focusing on nearshore lines near Point Reyes, where we hope to find agreeable sampling conditions.










A large mixed feeding flock of seabirds gathers on and above choppy blue water near the rocky Southeast Farallon Island. 📸 photo: NOAA/ACCESS/PointBlue/Kaelyn De Young

Two common murres fly over the ocean, each carrying a fish in its bill, with the hazy Point Reyes coastline in the background. 📸 photo: NOAA/ACCESS/PointBlue/Kaelyn De Young

A black-footed albatross glides low over choppy blue ocean water, with breaking waves and whitecaps in the background.
📸 photo: NOAA/ACCESS/PointBlue/Dru Devlin

07/29/2026

Don't Forget! Public meeting! All are welcome to attend! Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Advisory Councils are meeting on July 31, 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PT (Pacific).

Council meetings are open to all to attend to learn and share their comments. This meeting will have an additional Management Plan Community Meeting (meeting within a meeting!) starting at 10:00 a.m. about the Management Plan Review and conclude with a public comment period to share thoughts on the creation of a Management Plan for both sanctuaries. Meeting information here https://farallones.noaa.gov/manage/sac_meetings.html

photo: NOAA