Welcome to Protect Monterey Bay!
Welcome to Protect Monterey Bay, a non-profit led by young people that live on the Monterey Peninsula and are dedicated to working with our community to protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
With thousands of migratory animals calling the bay home, we have a responsibility to protect them from the harmful impacts of human behavior. This includes careless littering, overfishing, and large vessels like cruise ships being allowed into the bay.
Follow our journey here - and reach out to get involved with our mission!
A Treasure Worth Guarding
The Monterey Bay on the central California coast is one of the largest nationally protected marine sanctuaries in the United States - teeming with a diverse array of fish, birds and marine mammals. Although years of overfishing harmed this delicate ecosystem, careful stewardship has allowed populations of otters, sharks, whales, sea lions, and many more species of life, great and small, to thrive!
Stopping Cruise Ships
For years, cruise ships have been allowed into Monterey Bay on a ‘limited basis’ bringing pollution-spewing vessels chewing through animal habitats in kelp forests and harming inhabitants that are sustained through the food chain it nourishes.
As citizens of Monterey County, we are doing something to protect these waters and the species that call it home by calling attention to this atrocity.
Our Work
We take ACTION by bringing school children together for clean-ups of local beaches, and leading paddle-outs to meet cruise ships and protest their entry into the Bay.
We ADVOCATE by lobbying local authorities and through petitions and ballot initiatives. We bring AWARENESS by educating our community through visits to schools, social clubs, and on our online platforms.
A Win for the Bay!
On February 7th, 2023 our co-founders shared their thoughts with the Monterey City Council before a 3-2 vote that ceased the offering of key city services to visiting Cruise Ships.
This is a vital step in our battle to prevent Cruise Ships from coming to the Monterey Bay.
Read more in our special report on the meeting, including some of the media coverage, and what we believe will happen next.
A great way to Protect Monterey Bay is to prevent trash from reaching the waters of the bay. Our Beach Cleanups bring together volunteers of all ages to get their hands dirty protecting the bay while learning about the importance of recycling to prevent landfill overflow.
Upcoming Beach Cleanups!
We are the young leaders of Protect Monterey Bay! As school-age children living by the Monterey Bay we know the future of this beautiful, unique place is up to us . . . and you.
Our team works to educate our community, engage our peers, petition our leaders, and Protect the Monterey Bay!
