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Monterey Bay Cam

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Our Monterey Bay Cam offers a peek from the Aquarium's ocean-view decks

From this vantage point, you can identify a number of the birds and sea mammals that find refuge in the coastal waters of Monterey Bay. Look for black cormorants perched on a rock, perhaps stretching their wings to dry. Watch the water's surface—you might see a harbor seal poke its head out of the water or a sea otter wrapped in kelp.

Monterey Bay is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a federally protected marine area offshore of California's central coast. This safe haven is home to a rich variety of fishes, plants, marine mammals and birds. Watch the cam and enjoy the rich Life on the Bay.

Spot these animals on our Monterey Bay Cam

A humpback whale breaching revealing hundreds of white barnacles on its body

Humpback whale

Humpback whale

Humpback whales have the most complex and varied songs of any whale species.

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Brown pelican in full flight with wings spread wide soaring low over blue water and golden kelp beds in warm afternoon light

Brown pelican

Brown pelican

This majestic bird has a distinctive large pouch that hangs from the lower half of its long, straight bill.

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Southern sea otter floating on back in eelgrass-filled slough with mouth open and paws raised

Sea otter

Sea otter

Beyond their cute faces and fluffy fur, sea otters play an irreplaceable role in their coastal habitats.

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Close-up portrait of California sea lion raising snout upward among resting colony on sandy beach

California sea lion

California sea lion

This pinniped is adept at leaping out of the water. It’s often found sitting on rocks, beams and floating docks—even balancing on floating buoys.

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Animals & the ocean

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