KQED SCIENCE is hosting its very first Google+ Hangout On Air round table discussion about the proposed expansion of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary from 1-2PM PDT.
While the area will increase by just 1%, the sanctuary isn't just any small patch of ocean water. It's the busiest, most high-profile section of Northern California's coast, a highway for oil tankers and fishing boats, a recreational haven and a backdrop for millions of photographs -- the waters directly west of the Golden Gate Bridge.
"People assume that the water around the Golden Gate is protected. It's not," said Maria Brown, superintendent of the adjacent Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. "That area is of unparalleled beauty. It is an iconic area." But expanding the sanctuary could affect everything from firework shows to whether people can ride Jetskis off the Marin Headlands.
We'll touch on all of these issues in our discussion. Join QUEST's managing editor Paul Rogers for our round table discussion. If you're a part of the Google+ network, sign in and visit our event page here. You can contribute questions and we'll try to answer them during the live chat.