Summary of MBNMS Prohibitions
Section 922.132 of the sanctuary regulations prohibits or restricts several activities in order to safeguard sanctuary resources. Some exceptions are allowed if specifically identified in the regulations.
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The following activities are prohibited within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and thus are unlawful for any person to conduct or to cause to be conducted:
1. | Exploring for, developing or producing oil, gas or minerals |
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2. | Drilling, dredging or altering submerged lands; or placing or abandoning structures or matter on or in submerged lands |
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3. | Deserting a vessel aground, at anchor or adrift; or leaving harmful matter aboard a grounded or deserted vessel |
4. | Discharging or depositing any material or matter within or into the sanctuary (e.g. pollutants, trash, objects, etc.), or from outside the boundaries if it subsequently enters and injures the sanctuary Except: |
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5. | Taking, disturbing, injuring or possessing any sanctuary resource below 3,000 feet within the Davidson Seamount Management Zone |
6. | Introducing or releasing introduced species |
Except: |
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7. | Attracting any white shark, regardless of intent |
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8. | Disturbing, taking or possessing any marine mammal, sea turtle or bird within or above the sanctuary |
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9. | Moving, removing, injuring or possessing historical resources |
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10. | Flying motorized aircraft below 1,000 feet above sea level in any of the four NOAA regulated overflight zones specified in the regulations |
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11. | Operating motorized personal watercraft |
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12. | Interfering with enforcement (e.g., an investigation, search or seizure connected with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and regulations) |
Recommended International Maritime Organization Vessel Tracks
(Not part of federal regulations)
In 2000, the International Maritime Organization adopted recommended shipping tracks through the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The purpose of the tracks was to guide coastal shipping along routes far enough from shore to allow for effective emergency response in the event of a mishap. Though the vessel tracks are not binding by federal law, failure to follow the recommendations subject ship operators to potential added liability should a vessel operating outside the tracks become involved in an incident that results in environmental harm.
Important Note: This web page provides a summary of regulatory prohibitions only. For a complete “official text" of MBNMS regulatory prohibitions, see Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 922.132 published by the U.S. Government Printing Office. |