The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was established in
September 1992. Marine sanctuaries strive to preserve ocean
environments that are still relatively pristine while promoting
multiple use of the area for enjoyment by everyone. Ninety
percent of the U.S. population lives within 200 miles of the
nation's coastlines, and competition for use of ocean resources
is growing rapidly.
LOCATION / BOUNDARIES / SIZE:
The Sanctuary includes ocean waters of the central California
coast from Cambria to north of San Francisco, and extends
seaward to an average of 30 miles. Monterey Bay proper
actually comprises less than 1/15th of the entire sanctuary.
Sanctuary boundaries do not include any dry land areas.
The Sanctuary encompasses 5,322 square statute miles.
It is the largest marine sanctuary in the United States.
It is the largest marine sanctuary in the world by volume,
and the second largest in the world by area.
The Monterey Bay submarine canyon is larger than the Grand Canyon.
The deepest point in the Sanctuary is 10,663 feet (3,250 meters).
AVERAGE OCEAN TEMPERATURE:
The surface temperature averages 55 degrees F (13 degrees C).
LIVING MARINE RESOURCES:
| Fish |
345 species |
| Invertebrates |
31 phyla |
| Marine algae (plants) |
450+ species |
| Marine mammals |
26 species |
| Seabirds |
94 species |
| Turtles |
4 species |
Approximately 21 endangered and threatened animals spend
all or part of their lives in the Sanctuary.
Grey whales are seasonal migrants, traveling close to
shore during two annual migrations between Alaska and
breeding grounds in Baja California. Blue whales are
found in the Sanctuary from late spring to late autumn.
Other cetaceans include Minke whales, Fin whales,
Humpback whales, Pacific Right whales, Sperm whales,
and several porpoise and dolphin species.
The sea otter population within the Sanctuary is
estimated to be over 1,200 animals. Thirty-one
percent of the population inhabits the coastal area
from Point Sur to Ano Nuevo/Pigeon Point. An
official California Sea Otter Game Refuge extends
from Carmel south to Santa Rosa Creek near Cambria,
encompassing about half of the otter's established range.
Upwelling (the movement of deep, nutrient rich ocean
water to the surface) is a critical element to the
abundance and diversity of marine life in the Sanctuary.
The cold, nutrient rich water from the ocean floor
triggers a food web that feeds a remarkable mix of
organisms from the smallest microscopic plants
(phytoplankton) to Earth's largest creature, the
endangered blue whale. Upwelling occurs on the West
Coast during the summer. When the cold water rises to
the surface and meets the warmer air temperatures,
marine fog is produced.
Giant kelp is the fastest growing plant on earth;
it grows up to 14 inches a day in water as deep as
100 feet. The kelp supports biological communities
among their protective canopies, and is a favorite
resting spot of the sea otter, which naps in the
protective bed of floating strands. When the kelp is
washed ashore, it continues to support communities of
invertebrates, crustaceans, and birds.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
The Sanctuary is the final home for over 1,200
shipwrecked vessels.
CURRENT SANCTUARY PROGRAMS:
Staff and volunteers help coordinate the
following programs on behalf of the Sanctuary:
- Water Quality Program
- Oil Spill Response Plans
- Vessel Traffic
- Coast Watch
- Elkhorn Slough Erosion Abatement
- Site Characterization
- Tourism
- Sanctuary Advisory Council
- Marine Education
- Scientific Information Center
- Interpretive Center
- Marine Enforcement Support
- Resource Monitoring
REGULATIONS:
Federal regulations prohibit the following activities
within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary:
- Exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals
- Discharge or deposit of any material (some specific exceptions)
- Moving, removing, or injuring a Sanctuary historical resource
- Altering the seabed (some specific exceptions)
- Disturbing marine mammals, sea turtles, or marine birds
- Flying motorized aircraft below 1,000 feet in certain areas
- Possessing any historical resource, marine mammal, sea turtle,
or marine bird
- Interfering with enforcement of Sanctuary laws or regulations
- Operating "personal watercraft" outside of the four
designated zones and access routes
ACTIVITIES:
The Sanctuary has many diverse uses, including the following:
- Boating, sailing and harbors
- Board sports and SCUBA diving
- Commercial and recreational fishing
- Tourism and recreation
- Scientific research
- Kelp harvesting
- Shipping
- Military activities
- Coastal development
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