Winter 2024

108 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 4 Congressmen Leon Panetta and his team of go- getters went into action. In 1992, Secretary Panetta succeeded in obtaining the designation that would preserve our local waters, and the life within, in perpetuity. “It was a challenge,” Secretary Panetta tells Carmel Magazine .“First, a bill to establish a national marine sanctuary had never been introduced before because sanctu- aries were normally created administratively. Second, the Bush Administration was opposed to the bill. Nevertheless with the broad support of the community—from ocean researchers and conservationists, to fishermen and business- men, local leaders and the public—we were able to move the bill in Congress, and then tied it to a larger disaster bill that the president had to sign. It was a fight, but we won.” Secretary Panetta then joined forces with some of the most powerful people in the area, including for- mer Congressman Sam Farr, community activist Dan Haifley and current Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley. All remain united for this cause 32 years later.“In part, because we have such a significant board of directors with such stature in our com- munity, it’s given us a great platform to really champion what is the largest sanctuary in the continental U.S. and certainly one of the most prolific and celebrated in the country,” Kelly adds. Legendary local philanthropist and Cannery Row Company Managing Partner Ted Balestreri has also been a foundation board member since the start and has kept its work a priority. “We have an incredible board of direc- tors who are committed, individually and as a group, to keeping the sanctuary clean, safe and accessible. Endless hours have been spent together to come up with different ways and ideas in support of that mission.” The Sanctuary Foundation works like an octopus, adeptly managing something in each of its arms, all at once. “We do things like create blog series, a virtual speaker series, we’ve creat- ed several short films, and we provide commu- nity engagement opportunities from beach clean-ups, to movie nights at our Sanctuary Education Center,” Kelly explains. More key work involves funding programs and projects that keep the sea creatures safe. “We’ve been helping to fund several whale rescue programs over the years, from supporting the large whale disentanglement network with things like equip- ment and rescue training. We also invested in preventative measures like a gear innovations manager who works with the fishing community and manufacturers to try to develop new whale-safer fishing equipment like crab pots,” she says. The foundation funds other critical Scientific tracking estimates that at least 20,000 whales—including humpbacks and gray whales—migrate with fewer casualties due to safer fishing practices and de-netting programs. Often called “killer whales,” orcas are year-round residents in the majestic waters of the sanctuary. Although transient, biologists say some groups are based in and around the Monterey Bay. Photo: Kathryn Hoffman