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Do I Need A Permit?

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary strives to promote research and education, while minimizing any environmental impacts. Obtaining permits for prohibited activities in the Sanctuary is part of this process. For a list of prohibited activities, click here.

Additional permits from other local, State, and Federal management agencies may be required in addition to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

DO I NEED A PERMIT? HOW DO I GET A PERMIT?
Common permit triggers include: Complete an application, which should contain:
  • Coversheet
  • Summary
  • Technical Information
  • Environmental Impacts
  • Supporting Information


Authorization Permit Triggers:

(Click here for the Authorization Permit application information)

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  • Construction
  • Seawall maintenance
  • Operation of equipment on beaches
  • Discharges

Education Permit Triggers:

(Click here for the Education Permit application information)

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  • Filming operations
  • Placement of equipment on seafloor
  • Sediment collection
  • Collection of live rock
  • Overflights

Research Permit Triggers:

(Click here for the Research Permit application information)

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  • Quadrat bolts
  • Sediment collection
  • Rock removal
  • Trawling for research purposes
  • Instrumentation or equipment on seafloor
  • Moorings and buoys
  • Discharge (e.g., dyes, AUVs, XBTs, matter)
  • Overflights
  • Attracting white sharks
  • Davidson Seamount resource collection
  • Amendments

Special Use Permit Triggers:

(Click here for the Special Use application information)

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  • Dispersal of human ashes
  • Overflights
  • Temporary placement of objects for public events
  • Temporary placement of objects for motion pictures
  • Commercial submarine cables


Charts of MBNMS Jurisdiction

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Overflight Map - small
  
Dredging Map-small
  
Motorized Personal Water Craft Map-small
Overflights  

Dredging

   Motorized Personal Watercraft
 
Davidson Seamount Management Zone-small
Elkorn Slough Map - small
Davidson Seamount Management Zone Elkhorn Slough
  The main channels of the Elkhorn Slough fall under the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary jurisdiction. The surrounding marsh areas are under the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve jurisdiction.

Disclaimer: These charts are for educational purposes only. Please consult the MBNMS boundaries and Federal regulations for detailed information on prohibited activities within the Sanctuary.
URL: http://montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/permit/permits_need.html    Reviewed: June 11, 2013
Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service

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