The hidden underwater eden of ‘California’s Galapagos’, where kelp, sea lions and giant bass reign | California

Only 14 miles (23 km) off the south California The coast lies a wide heaven underwater.

Pass the giant sea the size of gray bears and schools of sardines sliding together through the threads of the golden sea, which heads its long legs on a world that explodes with life and color. The fun port seals dance in the depths of the pink, green and orange plants, along with the spiny crustaceans and the vibrant sea stars that adopt the volcanic rocks that descend to the sandy sea floor.

The slopes and caves are often called the California Channel, and it is home to thousands of species that flourish on rugged, virgin, isolated and protected gardens in the country that surrounds it.

Ludiation of both research and entertainment, the 13 marine protected area (MPAS) retains about 21 % of its water as a shelter for the species that live there. While the public can reach these areas Near the cities of Santa Barbara and Fintora for swimming, browsing, diving, hunting and other activities that may lead to harm or loss of habitats.

But some guarantees are interrogated to this campus.

This year, the California Fish and Games Committee conducts a required review Of them MPAS Given a set of proposals to expand or reduce protection around the islands.

The marine protected area network, which is now covered 124 coastal divisions and extends about 16 % of the waters of the state, has been appointed with clear goals and with the great purchase of the public.

With the 10 -year MPAS review, California officials evaluate whether they have succeeded in preserving marine life and ecosystems, maintaining educational, recreational and spiritual use and reducing economic loss. 20 petitions were presented by the stakeholders – tribes, fisheries and candidates among them – and they are taken into consideration. Decisions are expected early next year.

Scientists and scientists conserve environment and environmental preachers to prove the abundance that has flourished here.

“Dr. Douglas McCalli, associate professor at the University of California in Santa Barbara and director of a bouleviah laboratory in the ocean, said we have had two contracts of opportunities to learn from the laboratory of protected areas in the channel’s islands.

With less than 290,000 visits to the channel’s islands in 2024, the park is much less trafficking From other outdoor attractions in California (comparison, Yusemit hosted more than 4.3 million visits last year). But the five remote islands, which can only be reached, offer a rare glimpse into a brown world. There are no paved roads, no rental stores, no gift stores, and many historical and cultural -related buildings instead of using visitors.

It is this experience that is not attracted by those looking for adventure across the channel and to the waves, where the rich biological diversity that preservation cultivates is the basic clouds-especially under the waves.

“People come from all over the state and around the world to diving the channel’s islands, which were drawn by the fun lions of the sea, and underwater cathedrals from the forests of the emerald sea and Pass the giant sea Molly Morsi, the first director of the Newf of Science Laborat, said, and talked about a study conducted in 2023, which showed that she had shown environmental tourism in Beniof.

But the benefits spread beyond the Hardy tourists, according to Makoli. With the exception of fishing in specific spaces, the species not only helped the bounce – it also served as a blessing for the fishing industry.

Speaking about the bustle of the diving boat motor as it was cut through the blue area towards the islands, the McCalli broke out the savings account that generates significantly higher returns. He said: “When you leave some of this biological diversity without its harvest, it grows in the number but also grows in size.” Allowing creatures to grow greater means that they will produce more eggs and nourish the bonus diversity bonus that turns to the areas that can benefit from both fish and entertainment fisheries and restore the ecological system.

He said: “The head of a very large sheep,” referring to a uniquely distinctive fish with large pink medium teeth, “may have a mass of smaller females, producing more than twice the number of eggs.”

Even on the surface on a cold and gray day in May, the life area. While coastal societies fade on the mainland against the horizon, dozens of dolphins through the waves are raised under the hungry seizure. The wise shed on his side and tail before the face of face appears at her lunch.

But it is more than just abundance. The widely studied areas have proven to feed and fuel for nearby fisheries. The production of the seafood alone increased by 225 % outside its borders, according to Meklouli. Meanwhile, the biomus increased by 80 % and a 50 % study of fish species in protected areas in only five years after the MPA set.

However, the expansion of protection may be a challenge. Commercial fishermen greatly support the guarantee that ecosystems are sustainable but less keen to see their rights for more Marine areas were canceled.

Craig Shoman, director of the Maritime Zone at the Ministry of Fish and Wildlife in California, told the Associated Press that marine protected areas are among the most controversial things that the agency is working on. Last year, a group of stakeholders, which included fisheries, tribes, and conservation specialists, and candidates, provided 20 petitions with a set of suggestions, from reducing or eliminating MPAS to enhance and improve them. The petitions are under consideration by the committee.

The political islands are also the goals of conservation increasingly on the cutting block. The Trump administration has decreased the regulations at an altitude of about 500,000 square miles (1.3 square meters) of federal waters, and opened once protected areas to commercial fishing. The president promised more procedures on the road.

Meanwhile, threats continue. The climate crisis has added new challenges with disaster dangers, including the poor flow of the fire, and the increase in pollution and changes caused by the world of warming.

“When we protect the ocean, we really take care of ourselves,” said Sandy Elisorth, director of the Pacific initiative at the Council of Natural Resources Defense, said. It hopes not only MPAS is promoting, but only expanded: among the proposals five new MPAS and eight expansions, including four that will make the current regulations more restricted.

“There are also proposals that would weaken the network,” she said, noting that the proposals for preserving strong winds are facing locally and all over the country. With preliminary recommendations from the Ministry of Fish and Wildlife that you do not expect until November, there is no strong indication of the way things will go.

Until then, the search will continue, as well as hunting along the indirect areas where the species are abundant. Divers will swim between rare and vibrant creatures in the depths. Birds of wheels will see them on loud rocks.

For Moguli, this is already a tremendous achievement. But he believes that there is more to do it.

“This amazing garden is still a children’s park,” and comparing the 20 -year -old Channel Islands Park with 152 -year -old Yellowstone.

“This is just a glance,” he said. “Imagine what these values ​​might be in the event of its glorification for several generations – for another California population. This is what I like to challenge ourselves for today.”