Happy #MPAMonday 🌊 ! . Did you know that four (soon to be five!) National Marine Sanctuaries are located along our California coast? Let’s celebrate because this week marks the 50th anniversary of our National Marine Sanctuaries! 50 years ago, the U.S. ushered in a new era of ocean conservation by creating the National Marine Sanctuary System. Since then, it has grown into a nationwide network of 15 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments that conserve more than 620,000 square miles of spectacular ocean and Great Lakes waters, an area nearly the size of Alaska. NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a network of underwater parks. The network includes a system of 15 national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea and Rose Atoll marine national monuments. Few places on the planet can compete with the diversity of the National Marine Sanctuary System, which protects America's most iconic natural and cultural marine resources. The West Coast Regional office of the national marine sanctuaries manages 15,333 square miles of marine protected areas around Channel Islands, Cordell Bank, Greater Farallones, Monterey Bay and Olympic Coast. Healthy, protected marine ecosystems like Crystal Cove State Park’s State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) provide more than recreation – they support the pillars on which our communities depend, from food security to public health. Marine health is a driving force of life on Earth – for humans and marine life. Protecting these ecosystems is essential to protecting human life. Join the #SaveSpectacular campaign to support these vibrant and vulnerable ecosystems! To learn more about National Marine Sanctuaries visit the link in our bio or https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/gallery/ #SaveSpectacular #DiscoverWonder #NOAA #nationalmarinesanctuaries #nationalmariensanctuary #castateparks #castateparksoc #califmpas #ocmpac #MPAMonday #crystalcove #crystalcovestatepark #mpacollaborativenetwork