U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases draft of the Comprehensive
Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the
Farallon National Wildlife Refuge for public review.   Read complete press release.

The draft Plan articulates conservation issues and presents management
alternatives for the remote refuge, located 28 miles off the coast of
San Francisco, in San Francisco County.

Highlights of the plan:

• Continue to provide breeding and resting
  habitat for migratory seabirds and marine mammals (primarily seals and
  sea lions);
• Monitor seabird and marine mammal population size and reproduction success;
• Eradicate nonnative house mice and remove individual problem western gulls affecting seabird populations;
• Continue management activities to restore native plants;
• Expands opportunities for education through the development of new school and public education materials;
• Develop a workshop for charter boat staff and naturalists to enhance
  the off-refuge tours they provide to the public; and
• Develop a visitor services plan that evaluates and implements on-site public uses such as guided tours.

The Oceanic Society has submitted their comments on this plan, which can be read here.