Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is a marine sanctuary off the Pacific coast of California in the United States .
Founded in 1980, the 3,800 km² area borders the Santa Barbara Canal and is of national importance because of its extraordinary beauty and its extraordinary natural and cultural treasures. It surrounds the islands of Anacapa , Santa Cruz , Santa Rosa , San Miguel and Santa Barbara (five of the eight Channel Islands ) and extends from the coastline - based on the mean high tide line - six nautical miles (approximately 11 km) around each of the five Islands off. The main task of the protected area is to protect the natural and cultural treasures contained within its borders.
The National Marine Sanctuary program is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
