Explore Our History

National Marine Sanctuary Created

Years of work and planning culminate in the designation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, at the time the largest protected marine area in the nation. The sanctuary encompasses more than 5,300 square miles of coastal ocean from Marin County to San Simeon. With Monterey Bay as its centerpiece, it includes habitats ranging from tide pools and kelp forests to the depths of the Monterey submarine canyon.

A Huge Commitment

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the largest marine protected area in the Northern Hemisphere and a remarkably productive coastal environment. It serves as a home for numerous species of birds, mammals, fishes, and invertebrates. Part of a system of 13 national marine sanctuaries administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the sanctuary is established for the protection of one of the world's most diverse marine ecosystems, for research, education and public use of this national treasure.