Gulf of the Farallones is a gulf of the Pacific Ocean off the northern California coast. It extends westward from the opening of the San Francisco Bay and Drakes Bay to the Farallon Islands. Most of the gulf lies in Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, which protects about 1,250 square miles (3,200 km2). It is South and West of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. It is North and East of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary."The Gulf of the Farallones refers to the continental shelf area off central California between Point Reyes (38°N) to the north and Point Montara (37.5°N) to the south and extends 80 km offshore "