Contact:  Ed Ueber                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                       2/12/96

NOAA ISSUES PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING ATTRACTING OF WHITE SHARKS IN CALIFORNIA'S MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a proposed rule prohibiting attracting white sharks in near shore waters by using chum or other means in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA has proposed the new regulation to protect the sanctuary's living resources and to avoid conflicts among the users of the sanctuary.

The National Marine Sanctuary Program issued the proposed regulation to amend the regulations governing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and restrict attracting white sharks in the nearshore (seaward to three miles) areas of the sanctuary.

"This new regulation will ban any activities that would attract white sharks through the use of chum in the sanctuary," said Ed Ueber, sanctuary manager. "The proposed rule seeks to protect the sanctuary's resources and the people who enjoy those resources."

On Friday, March 1, the office charged with managing the northern portion of the sanctuary will conduct a formal public hearing on the proposed rule from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the El Granada Elementary School, 400 Santiago Avenue, El Granada.

A 30-day public comment period on the proposed rule begins Feb. 12 and ends March 12, 1996.

"Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary belongs to the public, and I encourage everyone interested in this matter to participate in the process," said Ueber.

Requests for copies of the proposed rule and written comment should be directed to:

Ed Ueber, Sanctuary Manager
Monterey Bay (North), Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank
National Marine Sanctuaries
Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, CA 94123 
(Fax) 415-556-1419

OR

Elizabeth Moore, Sanctuaries and Reserves Division
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1305 East West Highway, SSMC4, 12th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(Fax) 301-713-0404