Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) preserve areas of extraordinary scenic beauty, biodiversity, and historic and economic importance for future generations. The Monterey Bay NMS contains a diverse marine ecosystem with rugged rocky shores, wave-swept sandy beaches, and tranquil estuaries. These habitats harbor an incredible variety of marine life, including 34 species of marine mammals, more than 180 species of seabirds and shorebirds, at least 525 species of fishes, and an abundance of invertebrates and algae. The sanctuary contains our nation's largest kelp forests and one of North America's largest underwater canyons.

Species of Concern: Multiple

Restrictions

The following activities are prohibited within this sanctuary:

1. Exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals.
2. Discharging or depositing from within or into the Sanctuary, other than from a cruise ship, any material or other matter, with exceptions.
3. Possessing, moving, removing, or injuring, or attempting to possess, move, remove, or injure, a Sanctuary historical resource.
4. Taking or possessing any marine mammal, sea turtle, or seabird within or above the sanctuary, except as authorized by federal law. Possessing within the Sanctuary (regardless of where taken, moved, or removed from), any marine mammal, sea turtle, or bird, except as authorized.
5. Drilling into, dredging, or otherwise altering the submerged lands of the Sanctuary; or constructing, placing, or abandoning any structure, material, or other matter on or in the submerged lands of the Sanctuary, except as incidental and necessary to conduct activities listed in the regulations.
6. Taking, possessing, or disturbing any marine mammal, sea turtle, or bird within or above the Sanctuary.
7. Operating motorized personal watercraft within the sanctuary except within certain designated zones and access routes within the sanctuary (these areas are located off of Pillar Point Harbor, Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor, Moss Landing Harbor, and Monterey Harbor as defined in Appendix E to Subpart M of 15 C.F.R. § 922).
8. Deserting a vessel aground, at anchor, or adrift in the Sanctuary or leaving harmful matter aboard a grounded or deserted vessel in the Sanctuary.
9. Introducing or otherwise releasing from within or into the Sanctuary an introduced species, except striped bass (Morone saxatilis) released during catch and release fishing activity.
10. Moving, removing, taking, collecting, catching, harvesting, disturbing, breaking, cutting, or otherwise injuring, or attempting to move, remove, take, collect, catch, harvest, disturb, break, cut, or otherwise injure, any Sanctuary resource located more that 3,000 feet below the sea surface within the Davidson Seamount Management Zone or possessing any Sanctuary resource the source of which is more than 3,000 feet below the sea surface within the Davidson Seamount Management Zone. This prohibition does not apply to fishing below 3000 feet within the Davidson Seamount Management Zone, which is prohibited pursuant to 50 CFR part 660 (Fisheries off West Coast States).
11. Attracting any white shark within the sanctuary.

Allowed

1. Moving, removing, or injury resulting incidentally from kelp harvesting, aquaculture, or lawful fishing activities is allowed.
2. Recreational and commercial fishing take is permitted when at a depth of up to 3,000 feet, but is subject to catch limitations and possible closures, state, and federal regulations. Commercial fishing activities include fishing with benthic fixed and mobile gear, kelp and algae take, and pelagic fishing. Recreational fishing includes dive fishing, fishing from boats, shore-based recreational take, and shore-based fishing.