Permits and Authorizations
Permits may be issued by the Superintendent, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) under special circumstances for activities otherwise prohibited by Sanctuary regulations when related to: research to enhance scientific understanding of the Sanctuary environment or to improve management decision-making; or education to further public awareness, understanding, and to establish access, use, and/or understanding of Sanctuary resources and wise use of the Sanctuary environment.
There are several prohibited activities within the MBNMS. Conducting a prohibited activity under any other circumstances is a violation of Federal law and regulations. Anyone conducting prohibited activities without a valid National Marine Sanctuary permit or authorization may be subject to the penalties as provided under Section 307 of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (as amended). A civil penalty of up to $140,000 for each violation of any regulation may be levied.
Permit application guidelines are available for the following types of activities: