The Davidson Seamount Working Group of the Joint Management Plan Review (JMPR) completed an initial analysis and recommendations for the potential protection of the Davidson Seamount via inclusion in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In part, the Working Group outlined how Davidson Seamount meets Sanctuary designation criteria, excerpted here from the Draft Davidson Seamount Action Plan (dated June 10, 2003).

Under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 ET. SEQ., as amended by Public Law 106-513), there are standards for sanctuary designation (Sec. 303). Relative to Section 303, the working group addressed whether the Davidson Seamount: had special national significance relative to conservation, ecology, science, education, and aesthetics; had adequate existing protection measures; had public benefits if made a sanctuary; and manageability issues. The Davidson Seamount meets the criteria for Sanctuary status.

Special National Significance
Davidson Seamount has special national significance relative to:

• Vulnerability of resource to damage: long-lived species; dominated by large fragile, slow-growing organisms; long recovery time if impacted.
• Special characteristics of resource: The area is pristine; it has large microhabitats of old corals and sponges; and it has relatively high numbers of rare and unidentified benthic species.
• Threat of collection: the large yellow sponge on Davidson Seamount is already of interest to bio-prospectors; there are small "precious corals" on Davidson Seamount that are similar to some already collected in Hawaii.
• There are no other seamount habitats currently under Sanctuary status.

• Biologically special: Davidson Seamount has previously undiscovered species and species assemblages (large, adjacent, patches of corals and sponges); there is an opportunity to discover unique forms of competition (and other ecological processes) between these patches. The high biological diversity of these assemblages is not found on other central California seamounts (i.e., Guide, Pioneer, and Gumdrop).
• Geographically special: Davidson Seamount is located in the California Current, which likely provides a larger flux of carbon (food) to the sessile organisms on the seamount surface relative to a majority of other seamounts in the Pacific.
• Physically special: Davidson Seamount is one of the largest seamounts in US waters. It, along with Guide, Gumdrop, Pioneer, and Rodriguez, is unlike typical oceanic-island volcanoes or near-ridge seamounts in that it is structurally more complex with northeast-tending ridges. It may have unique links to the nearby Partington and Monterey submarine canyons.
• Davidson Seamount is one of the largest seamounts on west coast.

• With high resolution mapping and 17 long/detailed ROV dives, the Davidson Seamount is one of the best described seamounts in the world.
• Rare or undescribed species (high diversity).
• Proximity to scientific research institutions makes the Davidson Seamount relatively accessible.
• Proximity to fishing fleets would facilitate cooperative research using these vessels.

• Proximity to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and other education institutions would provide excellent educational opportunities (e.g., an education display on seamounts). The proximity of education and research institutions in the Monterey Bay region facilitates interdisciplinary collaborations that would enhance research and education.
• The National Marine Sanctuary Program has the best-developed education programs in NOAA, providing an opportunity to educate the public about seamounts as well as cold water corals and sponges (interestingly, a recent survey of potential visitors to a planned Sanctuary visitor center indicates that one of their top interests is in seafloor topography).

• Davidson Seamount has clearly captivated the imagination of the public (see media and outreach product list from the May 2002 expedition: national news, BBC, newspaper articles, series of talks, new NOAA visitor center film, NOAA CD, NOS annual accomplishments, 140,000 hits per day web site, etc.).
• Charismatic issue: visually exciting; charismatic creatures like unique fish, large corals, and odd-looking invertebrates; aesthetic qualities of the seafloor are high relative to the rest of the Central California region.

• George Davidson is a historic figure in early charting and mapping, the Davidson Seamount was named after him.
• The Davidson Seamount was the first geologic featured described as a "seamount".

Inadequacy of Existing Protection Measures
A determination must be made as to whether or not existing State and Federal authorities are inadequate or should be supplemented to ensure coordinated and comprehensive conservation and management of the area, including resource protection, scientific research, and public education. There are management agencies responsible for some activities that may occur at the Davidson Seamount Ð National Marine Fisheries Service protects marine mammals through MMPA and regulates fisheries on the sea surface such as albacore, the Minerals Management Service would control potential oil, gas, and mineral extraction, and the U.S. Coast Guard enforces ocean dumping. However, as was the case when the MBNMS was designated in 1992, there is currently no comprehensive protection and management of organisms on the seamount or the surrounding ecosystem. Moreover, there are no coordinated education or research programs addressing Davidson Seamount issues.

Manageability
The Davidson Seamount is a distinct geographic unit, which is easily recognized. Though deep and relatively far from shore, it is relatively accessible compared to other seamounts. There are many regional research and fishing vessels in the region that can access the water above Davidson Seamount. Moreover, one of the few institutions in the world with equipment able to dive the depths of Davidson Seamount, MBARI, is located adjacent to and a regular partner of the MBNMS. NOAA has airplanes and large research vessels that are available for use by the MBNMS to survey and monitor the Davidson Seamount. The greatest Sanctuary opportunities for the Davidson Seamount would be about seamount education. The limited, necessary at-sea enforcement of regulations would be difficult for this offshore area; however, regulations would be followed by legitimate commercial operations. Management of the Davidson Seamount as a stand-alone Sanctuary could be expensive; however, it would be cost effective to add as a management unit to existing infrastructure of the MBNMS.

Public Benefits of Sanctuary Status
The public benefits of sanctuary status must be considered relative to impacts on income generating activities. There are currently no income generating activities that would be impacted by the designation of the Davidson Seamount as part of the Sanctuary to protect benthic habitats. However, the benefits of Sanctuary status would include: protection of an ecosystem for ongoing education and long term research; increased national awareness and public understanding of seamount systems; protection of rare, new, and fragile species; better understanding of Central California ecosystem function; more research to enhance resource management decisions, potentially using fishing vessels; potentially sustainable bio-prospecting; and continued access to a relatively pristine site for generations to come.

For more information, see http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/jointplan/welcome.html