Santa Barbara Channel in California was recently designated the ninth Whale Heritage Area in the world and only the second Whale Heritage Area in the United States. The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area received this distinction thanks to its commitment to promoting responsible tourism, providing more ocean educational opportunities and supporting on-going research and conservation efforts.
© Adam Ernster, courtesy of Condor Express/Visit Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Channel is renowned for its rich biodiversity and thriving marine ecosystem. With more than 25 different specials of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), this region is highly important to the greater global ecosystem. The Santa Barbara Channel is home to larger great whales like blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales and the occasional orca. More than 15,000 Pacific gray whales migrate through the channel on their way to breeding grounds in Baja, Mexico, in the winter and to feeding groups in the Arctic in summer.
Now, The World Cetacean Alliance and World Animal Protection (the awarding organizations) teamed up with Santa Barbara Channel to launch a new global program: Wildlife Heritage Areas. The program serves as a larger initiative to support a coalition of responsible travel businesses with wildlife conservation.
The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area also seeks funding support for increased educational opportunities for visitors, students and local communities to learn the value of marine conservation.
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