“Visit” an National Marine Sanctuary in the Pacific Ocean on-line ( http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/visit/ (Links to an external site.) ), research one of the California MPA’s (https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs (Links to an external site.)) or investigate a National Wildlife Refuge on the shore of the Bay or Delta or in the Pacific Ocean/Calif. shoreline: https://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/ByState.cfm?state=CA (Links to an external site.)

Take on a role as either a (1) a marine ecologist, or (2) a fisheries or wildlife biologist, or (3) the owner/manager of an ecotourism business. Write a 1 – 2 page letter to a colleague from this point of view, describing the marine protected area, Sanctuary or Wildlife Refuge you “visited”, and what most interests you about the place. Include in your letter the name and location of the protected area, plus 3 – 4 of the following:

1. Why was the area protected? What special assets or features does it have?
2. What are some of the species that occur there? What species benefit from the reserve?
3. In what way is the reserve protected? What is allowed, or not permitted? For example, is any fishing or harvesting allowed?
4. What might be of high value to you, or of great interest, given your selected point of view? For example, is there an interesting problem or system to study, if you are an ecologist? Are there economically valuable species, any ecotourism opportunities?
5. Is there a downside to the reserve? Was or is there controversy about its establishment?
Your letter should be 250 – 500 words, plus you can include maps and a few photos. Be sure to credit the source.
Be sure to include full citation information for your references, MLA formatted, including the source, authors and date if available, as well as a web address for your marine reserve web page and web addresses for any other resources you used.