MBNMS Regulations and Boundaries

Overview

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act of 1972 is a federal law that directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create national marine sanctuaries in special ocean areas of the United States and develop plans and regulations for their management and protection.

NOAA designated the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) in September 1992 and issued detailed regulations that defined sanctuary boundaries, management programs, prohibited activities, permit procedures, etc.

This section provides information about the authority and jurisdiction of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary manages a 6,094 square statute miles (4,601 nmi2) ocean area from the mean high tide line to as far as 50 miles offshore between Cambria and the Marin Headlands.

The MBNMS regulations that receive the most interest from the public are those prohibiting activities, such as ocean dumping and wildlife harassment. Summarized and detailed, interactive descriptions of the prohibitions and other MBNMS regulations are available below. There are additional links for information about the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, MBNMS jurisdictional boundaries, and special regulatory zones.

More Information

Summary of MBNMS Prohibitions Brief description of the activities prohibited or restricted within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The prohibitions are part of a larger set of regulations governing the sanctuary. Sanctuary Boundaries The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary encompasses ocean waters as well as intertidal and submerged habitats below the mean high tide line. Special Regulatory Zones - Maps Maps depicting special regulatory zones within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Complete MBNMS Regulations The federal regulations governing the National Marine Sanctuary System and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. National Marine Sanctuaries Act The Act directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate and manage national marine sanctuaries and create federal regulations for their protection.