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Investigation 9: Ecoscenarios
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Ecoscenario Solutions
1. Management in a national marine sanctuary
The National Marine Sanctuary System was established in the United States in 1972 to protect
ocean waters, habitat in those waters, and local cultural history. It prevents activities like dumping
waste and drilling for oil. It controls activities like fishing and recreation. In 1977, people were
fighting to protect the central coast of California from oil drilling, and Monterey Bay was
considered for a sanctuary. In 1992, the US Congress created Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary as the largest sanctuary in the system.
In October 2000, a group of scientists published a report that recommended more sustainable
ways to harvest kelp in the sanctuary. Now, kelp harvesting in the sanctuary is all done by hand.
Limitations. Managing the sanctuary is challenging because there are many groups with different
needs. For example, the new kelp harvest plan is good for the kelp forest. But it makes life harder
for marine farmers and fishers who depend on the kelp.
2. Sea otter conservation
The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Program has been studying and working to save
threatened sea otters since 1984. The program rescues, treats, and releases injured otters. It also
raises and releases stranded pups (baby otters), and provides care for sea otters that can’t return to
the wild. As a result, the Pacific populations of sea otters have made a remarkable recovery from
the brink of extinction. Since the sea otters’ return, urchin populations have dropped, and the
kelp forest has begun to regrow.
The aquarium is one of six institutions in the Southern Sea Otter Research Alliance. The
alliance’s goal is conservation and recovery of the threatened southern sea otter and its ecosystem.
Limitations. After a strong recovery, southern sea otter populations are now declining. Scientists
are not exactly sure why. More research is needed to learn what is harming sea otters and what
actions are necessary to help their populations recover. It will take time to figure out how to
better protect sea otters.
3. Agriculture Water Quality Alliance
Water pollution from agricultural sources is a big problem for the Monterey Bay ecosystem.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Agriculture Water Quality Alliance are
working together to solve this problem. Many techniques have been used to filter sediments out
of rivers before the water reaches the ocean.
To reduce the levels of extra nutrients in the water, the alliance works with farmers to decrease
the amount of fertilizer they use on their fields. They share helpful strategies to reduce fertilizer
runoff. For example, farmers can apply many small doses of fertilizer instead of a few large doses.
Applying fertilizer to a plant’s roots, instead of over the entire field, can also reduce runoff.
Limitations. The alliance has limited funding to monitor fertilizer use and encourage better
practice by farmers. It addresses runoff only from farming and not from home gardens and lawns.
FOSS Populations and Ecosystems Course, Second Edition
© The Regents of the University of California
Ecoscenario Solutions
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Investigation 9: Ecoscenarios
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
4. Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network
Environmental groups can help support the Monterey Bay ecosystem. One of the main goals of
the Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network is to reduce urban pollution by educating people in
urban areas. The network depends on public participation in its scientific research, a process called
citizen science. Volunteer participants can monitor water quality, clean up pollution sources, and
educate neighbors in how to prevent pollution. One project involves building large containers to
collect water near storm drains. These containers help reduce the amount of urban pollution
runoff.
Limitations. Citizen science and other projects depend on lots of volunteers to get the work
done and spread the knowledge.
5. Responsible consumption
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has created a Seafood Watch program that suggests what seafood to
eat, based on current research. The research looks at ocean ecosystems and which populations of
organisms are in danger or might be keystone species. Seafood Watch helps people decide which
seafood to eat so they can have the least impact on ocean ecosystems. Seafood Watch is available
as an app or a printed card that fits in a wallet. Being careful to eat only sustainable seafood can
reduce the demand for threatened fish and help protect ocean ecosystems.
Limitations. The Seafood Watch program informs people about good and bad choices of
seafood. But people need to be willing to not eat their favorite seafood in order to help the
ecosystem.
Current Status
After steady growth, researchers are not sure why sea otter populations have been declining in
recent years. Scientists are working hard to find answers. Some factors that may be causing the sea
otter decline include boating activities by humans, fishing in the area, and pollution. About 40
percent of sea otters die from disease, which could be caused by increased pollution. Tissue from
dead otters had high levels of pesticides and farming chemicals like DDT. DDT was banned in
1972, but traces of it can still be found in the ocean. Human oil spills are another hazard for sea
otters. Oil from spills changes sea otter fur. It makes it impossible for their underfur to stay dry
and puts the sea otter’s life at risk. The future of the California kelp forests will depend on the
survival of the sea otters to keep urchin populations low.
FOSS Populations and Ecosystems Course, Second Edition
© The Regents of the University of California
Ecoscenario Solutions
Page 2 of 2