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{{Short description|Marine protected area in California, U.S.}} The '''Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary''' ('''MBNMS''') is a [[Federal government of the United States|federally]] protected marine area offshore of [[California]]'s [[Big Sur]] and [[Central Coast (California)|central coast]] in the United States. It is the largest US national marine sanctuary and has a shoreline length of {{convert|276|mi|km|0}} stretching from just north of the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] at San Francisco to [[Cambria, California|Cambria]] in [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo County]]. Supporting one of the world's most diverse marine [[ecosystem]]s, it is home to numerous [[mammal]]s, [[seabird]]s, [[fish]]es, [[invertebrate]]s and [[plant]]s in a remarkably productive [[coastal]] environment. The MBNMS was established on September 18, 1992,<ref name=designationexpansion>{{Cite web |title=Sanctuary Designations & Expansions |url=https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/designations.html |access-date=October 17, 2024 |website=NOAA}}</ref> for the purpose of resource protection, research, education, and public use. ==Description== The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) is one of the largest of a system of 14 National Marine Sanctuaries administered by the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA), within the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]]. It stretches from Rocky Point in [[Marin County, California|Marin County]], just north of the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], to the town of [[Cambria, California|Cambria]] in [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo County]], and encompasses a shoreline length of {{convert|276|mi|km|0}} and {{convert|6094|sqmi|sqnmi km2|0}} of ocean surrounding [[Monterey Bay]]. Its seaward boundary is an average of {{convert|30 |mi|nmi km|0}} offshore, and shoreward boundary the mean [[high tide]]. Its area is {{convert|6,094|sqmi|sqnmi km2|0}}. The deepest point is {{convert|10,663|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} in the [[Monterey Submarine Canyon]], which is deeper than the [[Grand Canyon]]. The average ocean surface temperature is {{convert|55|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The sanctuary provides habitat for 36 [[species]] of [[marine mammal]]s, 94 species of [[seabird]]s, at least 525 species of [[fish]], four of [[sea turtle]]s, 31 [[phylum|phyla]] of [[marine invertebrate]]s, and more than 450 species of [[marine algae]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=MBNMS: Quick Facts: The Sanctuary at a Glance|url=https://montereybay.noaa.gov/intro/mbnms_quickfacts.html|access-date=March 4, 2021|website=montereybay.noaa.gov}}</ref> Historical sites include 1,276 reported [[shipwreck]]s and 718 [[Prehistory|prehistoric]] sites. The MBNMS has major programs for research and monitoring, and another for education and outreach. Public recreation activities such as [[kayaking]], [[scuba diving]], and [[surfing]] are permitted, along with [[commercial fishing]]. [[Offshore drilling|Offshore oil drilling]] and [[Deep sea mining|seabed mining]] are banned to protect the sanctuary.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Overview of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary|url=https://montereybay.noaa.gov/intro/welcome.html|access-date=March 4, 2021|website=montereybay.noaa.gov}}</ref> The sanctuary provides economic value via [[ecotourism]] as well as [[fishery]] resources, including the [[Dungeness crab]] and [[market squid]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Kashiwabara|first1=Lauren M.|last2=Kahane-Rapport|first2=Shirel R.|last3=King|first3=Chad|last4=DeVogelaere|first4=Marissa|last5=Goldbogen|first5=Jeremy A.|last6=Savoca|first6=Matthew S.|date=April 1, 2021|title=Microplastics and microfibers in surface waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, California|journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin|language=en|volume=165|pages=112148|doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112148|pmid=33610108 |s2cid=231979949 |issn=0025-326X|doi-access=free|bibcode=2021MarPB.16512148K }}</ref> [[Otter trawling]] has been shown to have a significantly negative impact on the [[Benthic zone|benthic]] [[invertebrate]] [[biodiversity]] in areas where [[trawling]] is less restricted.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Engel|first1=Jonna|last2=Kvitek|first2=Rikk|date=December 1998|title=Effects of Otter Trawling on a Benthic Community in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1998.0120061204.x|journal=Conservation Biology|volume=12|issue=6|pages=1204–1214|doi=10.1046/j.1523-1739.1998.0120061204.x|bibcode=1998ConBi..12.1204E |s2cid=44839667 |issn=0888-8892}}</ref> Despite its protection as a National Marine Sanctuary MPA, a study found [[Microplastics|microplastic]] concentrations were higher than the global average, with a higher amount closer to shore.<ref name=":0" /> ===Visitor centers=== A Coastal Discovery Center is located across [[California State Route 1]] (the Pacific Coast Highway) from the [[Hearst Castle]] visitor center in [[San Simeon, California|San Simeon]], California, near the [[William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay |date= March 31, 2010 |work= official web site |publisher= [[NOAA]] |url= http://montereybay.noaa.gov/vc/cdc/ |access-date= December 5, 2010 }}</ref> The [http://montereybay.noaa.gov/vc/sec/welcome.html Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center] opened on July 23, 2012<ref>{{cite web|title=About Sanctuary Exploration Center|url=http://montereybay.noaa.gov/vc/sec/about.html|publisher=Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary}}</ref> at 35 Pacific Avenue in [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]], California. === Collaborations=== MBNMS collaborations include: * The Sanctuary Advisory Council's 20 voting members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public, plus seven local and [[Government of California|California state governmental]] jurisdictions. In addition, the respective managers for the five national marine sanctuaries in California ([[Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary]], [[Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary]], [[Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary]], [[Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary]], and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary), the [[Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve]], and the [[United States Coast Guard]] sit as non-voting members. Members are appointed competitively by the NOAA and serve three-year terms. The Sanctuary Advisory Council meets bi-monthly in open sessions located all along the {{convert|276|mi|0|adj=on}} boundary of the sanctuary. * Working groups of the council: Research Activities Panel, Sanctuary Education Panel, Conservation Working Group, Business & Tourism Activities Panel * Regional partnerships * B-WET (Bay Watershed Education and Training Program): a grant program to provide funding and support for environmental education for students, teachers, and communities throughout the Monterey Bay [[Drainage basin|watershed]]. == Events and activities == [[File:Ocean's Fair at the Coastal Discovery Center, San Simeon 2008.jpg|thumb|2008 Ocean's Fair at the Coastal Discovery Center at [[San Simeon, California]] ]] A Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary event calendar lists meetings as well as volunteer events such as Snapshot Day, Urban Watch, First Flush (water quality monitoring programs), and TeamOCEAN (kayaker naturalist program). The organization launched the Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network (SIMoN) website in 2003 to collect [[metadata]] for its various monitoring projects. In 2012, this information was released as an [[iOS]] application to allow visitors better access to the over 4,200 photos that have been collected.<ref name=RRR10308>{{cite journal |author1=King, C |author2=Lonhart, S |title="SeaPhoto:" Central California Marine Life Featured in New Free iPhone, iPad App |year=2012 |journal=In: Steller D, Lobel L, Eds. Diving for Science 2012. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 31st Symposium. Dauphin Island, AL |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/10308 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131027095959/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/10308 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 27, 2013 |access-date=October 26, 2013 }}</ref> ==History== A Marine Sanctuaries Study Bill was first proposed in 1967 with lobbying efforts by the [[Sierra Club]]. The [[Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972]] authorized the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] to monitor off-shore dumping. In 1975, the [[California Coastal Zone Conservation Commission]] recommended a marine sanctuary and in 1976 [[Santa Cruz County, California|Santa Cruz County]] and [[Monterey County, California|Monterey County]] joined the lobbying effort. In 1983 the [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Ronald Reagan administration]] dropped the area from consideration as a sanctuary.<ref name="hist">{{cite news |title= Milestones in MBNMS History |date=Fall 1997 |work= News from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary |url= http://montereybay.noaa.gov/educate/newsletters/news_97_fall/news97fallpg4.html |publisher= [[NOAA]] |page=4 |access-date= December 5, 2010 }}</ref> In 1988 the [[United States Congress]] re-authorized the Sanctuaries Act and proposed a sanctuary in Monterey Bay. However, public hearings, with the memory of the [[1969 Santa Barbara oil spill]], brought protests demanding a larger size. The first draft [[environmental impact statement]] was released in 1990, and a final management plan in June 1992 proposing the extended area. NOAA states both that it designated the sanctuary on September 18, 1992,<ref name=designationexpansion/> and also that on September 20, 1992, legislation proposed by [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] [[Leon Panetta]] authorized the sanctuary. At the time, it was the largest federal marine sanctuary in the [[continental United States]].<ref name="hist"/><ref>{{cite news |title= Monterey Bay Sanctuary-—Our Treasure |date=Fall 1997 |author= Leon E. Panetta |work= News from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary |url= http://montereybay.noaa.gov/educate/newsletters/news_97_fall/news97fallpg3.html |publisher= [[NOAA]] |page= 3 |access-date= December 5, 2010 }}</ref> ===Management=== There have been five superintendents of the MBNMS since its inception: # Terry Jackson (1992 to 1997):<ref>{{cite news |title= From the Captain's Chair |date=Fall 1997 |author= Terry Jackson |work= News from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary |url= http://montereybay.noaa.gov/educate/newsletters/news_97_fall/news97fallpg2.html |publisher= [[NOAA]] |page=2 |access-date= December 5, 2010 }}</ref> Jackson was a [[NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps]] [[Commissioned officer|officer]] who was assigned to the MBNMS as its first manager in 1992. Over the next year, Jackson hired the first MBNMS staffers. As a NOAA Corps officer, Jackson's land-based assignment ended in 1997. Jackson retired from the NOAA Corps in 1998. # Carol Fairfield (June and July 1997): A call for superintendent applicants went out in the spring of 1997. However, that process was ended by the chief of NOAA's [[Office of National Marine Sanctuaries]], Stephanie Thornton, because she "did not believe any of the current applicants had the skills she was looking for to be the MBNMS Superintendent."<ref>Quote from public memo issued by Thornton.</ref> The call for applicants was re-advertised, and Carol Fairfield (with NOAA's [[National Marine Fisheries Service]] Protected Resources Program) was selected was selected in June 1997. Fairfield spent her first month at the National Marine Sanctuary headquarters in [[Silver Spring, Maryland|Silver Spring]], [[Maryland]]. Fairfield was reassigned on July 28, 1997, and Thornton said "Fairfield¹s reassignment is a personnel matter which cannot be discussed in detail."<ref>{{cite web |title= Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting Minutes |date=August 1, 1997 |author= Lisa Ziobro |publisher= [[NOAA]] |url= http://montereybay.noaa.gov/intro/advisory/SAC_M_A/970801.txt |access-date= December 5, 2010 }}</ref> # Joanne Flanders (1997): At the time of Jackson's departure, Joanne Flanders (another NOAA Corps Officer) was Assistant Superintendent. Flanders was appointed acting superintendent for about six months. # William J. Douros (1998 to 2006): In January 1998 William J. Douros, who had previously worked for Santa Barbara County, became superintendent.<ref>{{cite news |title= New MBNMS Superintendent: William Douros Takes the Helm |date=Spring 1998 |work= News from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary |url= http://montereybay.noaa.gov/educate/newsletters/news_98_spring/newssp98pg5.html |publisher= [[NOAA]] |page= 5 |access-date= December 5, 2010 }}</ref> In 2006 Douros was promoted to [[United States West Coast]] regional director for the National Marine Sanctuary Program. # Paul Michel (2007 to Present{{when|date=October 2024}}): Paul Michel, who had worked at the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] since 1987, became superintendent.<ref>{{cite web |title= New Superintendent Named for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary |date= April 5, 2007 |work= Press Release |publisher= [[NOAA]] |url= http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/press/2007/pr040507.html |access-date= December 5, 2010 }}</ref> ===Management of northern section=== Since the [[Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary]] (GFNMS) had been established earlier and had a staff already, the section of MBNMS north of Año Nuevo Point near the [[San Mateo County]] line was managed by GFNMS from its office in San Francisco. By 1996, Terry Jackson of MBNMS requested that the management boundaries be adjusted to match the sanctuary boundaries. However, Ed Ueber of GFNMS opposed any change.<ref>{{cite news |title= Dispute Over County's Coastal Refuge / Jurisdiction of Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary about to change hands |author= Michael McCabe |date= June 21, 1996 |newspaper= [[San Francisco Chronicle]] |url= https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Dispute-Over-County-s-Coastal-Refuge-2977342.php |access-date= December 17, 2010 }}</ref> == Oil and gas reserves == There are [[Offshore oil and gas in the United States|oil and gas reserves off the coast]], but exploration has not been permitted. In 1982, [[United States Secretary of the Interior]] [[James G. Watt]] proposed opening the [[Continental shelf#Topography|outer continental shelf]] off the [[Central Coast (California)|Central Coast]] of California to [[Hydrocarbon exploration|oil and gas exploration]].<ref name="bigsurlup">{{cite web|url=http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/docs/plans/Big_Sur_LUP_complete.PDF|title=Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan|date=February 11, 1981|publisher=Monterey County Planning Department|access-date=November 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606055838/http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/docs/plans/Big_Sur_LUP_complete.PDF|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> California residents and politicians strongly opposed the proposal and it was defeated.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/11/us/many-on-coast-fight-oil-lease-move.html|title=Many on Coast Fight Oil Lease Move|last=Lindsey|first=Robert|date=May 11, 1982|work=New York Times|access-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026054532/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/11/us/many-on-coast-fight-oil-lease-move.html|archive-date=October 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1990, [[President of the United States|President]] [[George H. W. Bush]] used an obscure 1953 law to permanently ban oil and gas development in Monterey Bay. In late December 2016, President [[Barack Obama]] used the same law to ban oil exploration from Hearst Castle to [[Point Arena]] in [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino County]], California.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theconversation.com/will-obamas-offshore-drilling-ban-be-trumped-70125|title=Will Obama's offshore drilling ban be Trumped?|last=Parenteau|first=Patrick|work=The Conversation|date=January 2, 2017|access-date=October 25, 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925100251/http://theconversation.com/will-obamas-offshore-drilling-ban-be-trumped-70125|archive-date=September 25, 2017}}</ref> In July 2017, under the direction of [[Executive order (United States)|Executive Order]] 13795<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-13795-implementing-america-first-offshore-energy-strategy|title=Executive Order 13795—Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy – The American Presidency Project|website=www.presidency.ucsb.edu}}</ref> from President [[Donald Trump]], the [[United States Department of Commerce]] began re-evaluating the protected status of the sanctuary, which includes the [[Davidson Seamount]] off the coast of Big Sur. The [[seamount]], at {{convert|23|nmi|km mi|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|7|nmi|km mi|abbr=on}} wide, and {{convert|7480|ft|0}} high, is one of the largest in the world. Many [[Environmentalism|environmentalists]] and residents opposed opening the area to oil and gas exploration.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/California-s-marine-sanctuaries-may-face-new-11409436.php|title=California's marine sanctuaries may face new drilling threat|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 25, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026054135/http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/California-s-marine-sanctuaries-may-face-new-11409436.php|archive-date=October 26, 2017}}</ref> ==Related protection areas== A large number of protected areas have overlapping jurisdictions. From roughly from north to south:<ref>{{cite book|title=Guide to the Central California Marine Protected Areas: Pigeon Point to Point Conception |date=September 2007 |publisher=[[California Department of Fish and Game]] |page=8 |url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/ccmpas_guide.pdf |access-date=December 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113165452/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/ccmpas_guide.pdf |archive-date=January 13, 2010 }}</ref> {{colbegin}} * [[Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary]] (adjacent to the north) * [[Golden Gate National Recreation Area]] * [[San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve]] * [[Fitzgerald Marine Reserve]] * [[Half Moon Bay State Beach]] * [[San Gregorio State Beach]] * [[Pomponio State Beach]] * [[Pescadero State Beach]] * [[Bean Hollow State Beach]] * [[Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park]] * [[Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area]] * [[Año Nuevo State Reserve]] * [[Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve]] * [[Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area]] * [[Natural Bridges State Beach]] * [[Lighthouse Field State Beach]] * [[Twin Lakes State Beach]] * [[New Brighton State Beach]] * [[Seacliff State Beach]] * [[Manresa State Beach]] * [[Sunset State Beach]] * [[Santa Cruz harbor]] * [[Zmudowski State Beach]] * [[Moss Landing State Beach]] * [[Moss Landing Wildlife Area]] * [[Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve]] * [[Salinas River State Beach]] * [[Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge]] * [[Marina State Beach]] * [[Monterey State Beach]] * [[Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area]] * [[Lovers Point State Marine Reserve]] * [[Asilomar State Marine Reserve]] * [[Asilomar State Beach]] * [[Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve]] * [[Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area]] * [[Point Lobos]] State Marine Reserve and State Marine Conservation Area * [[Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park]] * [[Los Padres National Forest]] * [[Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park]] * [[Big Creek State Marine Reserve and Big Creek State Marine Conservation Area]] * [[Cambria State Marine Conservation Area]] * [[William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach]] * [[San Simeon State Park]] * [[White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area]] * [[Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary]] (adjacent to the south) {{colend}} ==Gallery== <gallery widths="250px" heights="220px"> File:Sanc0823 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|Young [[elephant seal]] at rookery, MBNMS File:Purple striped jellyfish, Pelagia panopyra, MBNMS.jpg|A [[purple striped jellyfish]] in the sanctuary File:Sanc0878 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|[[Actiniaria|Anemone]], MBNMS File:Sanc0831 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|Point Sur Lighthouse </gallery> ==See also== * [[List of marine protected areas of California]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== * {{cite book |title= A Political Culture of Conservation: Citizen Action and Marine Conservation in the Monterey Bay |author= Michelle Ann Knight |publisher= [[University of California Santa Cruz]] |year= 1997 }} Ph.D. dissertation * {{cite journal |title= The Disappointing History of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act |author= Dave Owen |journal= New York University Environmental Law Journal |year= 2003 |volume= 11 |url= http://mainelaw.maine.edu/faculty/pdf/Owen/11nyuenvtllj771.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101203130422/http://mainelaw.maine.edu/faculty/pdf/Owen/11nyuenvtllj771.pdf |archive-date= December 3, 2010 }} ==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.montereybaycam.com/ Live HD Web Cam of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary] *[http://www.californiampas.org/ California's MPAs] *[http://montereybay.noaa.gov/ Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary] {{Big Sur}} {{Protected areas of California|NERR}} {{Monterey County tourist attractions|state=collapsed}} {{National marine sanctuaries of the United States}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Marine sanctuaries in California]] [[Category:National Marine Sanctuaries of the United States]] [[Category:Protected areas of Marin County, California]] [[Category:Protected areas of San Francisco]] [[Category:Protected areas of San Mateo County, California]] [[Category:Protected areas of Santa Cruz County, California]] [[Category:Protected areas of Monterey County, California]] [[Category:Protected areas of San Luis Obispo County, California]] [[Category:Monterey Bay]] [[Category:Natural history of San Francisco]]