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The Potential For Marine Protected Areas In The San Francisco Bay, Samantha P. Delapena

Master's Projects and Capstones

The San Francisco Bay (the Bay) is the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast. This makes it one of country's greatest natural resources. Historical and current impacts from mining, pollution, and dredging have reduced the size of the Bay’s shallow, productive environment, which provides vital habitat for many important species. The seven and a half million people that inhabit the shores and hills surrounding the Bay, and economic activities such as commercial fishing and development continue to degrade ecosystems. Although conservation efforts have led to improvement of water quality and some habitat restoration over the past few decades, very little …