WHEREAS, San Miguel Island of the Channel Islands of California is unique in that six species of pinnipeds occur on its shores (California sea lion, Zalophus californianus; Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubata; Guadalupe fur seal, Arctocephalus townsendi; northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus; harbor seal, Phoca vitulina; and northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris); and
WHEREAS, all of these species either breed on San Miguel Island or probably did so in the recent past, the colony of elephant seals being the largest in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the newly discovered breeding colony of the northern fur seal on San Miguel Island is of special scientific and perhaps economic interest; and
WHEREAS, San Miguel Island is now under the jurisdiction of the U. S. Navy for use as a missile impact area; and
WHEREAS, the National Park Service is already delegated certain authority by the Navy to protect the natural values of San Miguel Island; and
WHEREAS, a Channel Islands National Park has been proposed;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists supports the creation of a Channel Islands National Park; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that San Miguel Island and its wildlife be given full protection as soon as possible by inclusion among the islands under jurisdiction of the National Park Service.