Monterey Ends Support for Cruise Ships in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
With the advocacy of student leaders of local nonprofit Protect Monterey Bay, the Monterey City Council voted Feb. 7, to immediately end the city’s support of visiting cruise ships by ceasing all security and disembarkation services for ships once again scheduled to start arriving in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
The 3-2 vote, came after public comments from business leaders and concerned citizens, authorized City Manager Hans Uslar’s plan to alert cruise lines that the City of Monterey would stop all assistance.
The Middle School students from local non-profit Protect Monterey Bay drew high praise from the City Council for their poised comments on the motion, with many others citing their statements and presence as having outsized influence in the proceedings. Heidi Witten-Forsythe (12) admitted, “we have to be a voice for the voiceless – even if this is way past my bedtime.”
“The battle isn’t over,” remarked Taylor Adams (13), during a reflective celebration after the meeting, noting that they were outnumbered during comments 5-1 by business leaders and cruise lobbyists, “but we asked them to think about planet over profits, and stop risking the long-term health of our ocean for the short-term revenue of a few.”
Aliya Denton (13) acknowledged the impact on some businesses dependent on tourism but, during her public comments, reminded the council that the Cruise Lobby had claimed an average of $125 spent per person during shore excursions – a drop in the bucket of Monterey County’s 3 million annual visitors that will spend more than $3b while vacationing in the popular coastal destination.
“Millions of tourists visit, and call the Monterey Bay 'Priceless,' she noted. "Well, according to the Cruise Lobby, it isn't priceless. It has a price: $125 on average per passenger. No amount is worth sacrificing our integrity and allowing cruise ships into a PROTECTED MARINE SANCTUARY,” Denton forcefully stated.
Protect Monterey Bay believes that the Cruise Ships will still try to find a way to enter the Bay – saying in a statement: “These companies are convicted felons that pay millions in fines for pollution and coverup. They register their ships in nations that allow them to evade U.S. tax, employment, and safety regulations.
They aren’t going to change their itinerary because four middle schoolers are demanding that a protected national marine sanctuary is actually protected. They will file lawsuits, engage in PR campaigns, and run endless commercials about all the fun happening on the top decks. Meanwhile, habitats are destroyed as sewage, plastics, wastewater, noise, and other pollutants wreak havoc for marine life below the surface.”
During her statement, Witten-Forsythe acknowledged that “our city can’t ban cruise ships – because the waterways are governed in Washington D.C. But tonight, is a step in the right direction - it sends a message that we welcome visitors to share the beauty in Monterey, but not at this cost – and not with these risks.”
Echoing her concern about risks, twin brother Hamish added “The first ship slated to come to Monterey on March 14th, is run by Princess Cruise Lines, who plead guilty to seven felonies and was handed the largest-ever criminal penalty involving deliberate vessel pollution for dumping and covering up through falsifying records and ordering staff to lie. They were hit with another fine while on probation and a 3rd fine after that in 2021. They’re relentless, serial environmental abusers. They don’t belong here.”
After acknowledging the inspirational student leadership, Mayor Tyller Williamson stated, "This could prevent cruise lines from coming into the bay anymore. But even if they do try to seek another contract with a company, I think this sends a very powerful message that we do not want cruise lines coming into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary."
“This is only the beginning,” Adams shared on her way out of City Hall at midnight. “The City Council agreed that this place is priceless and worth our protection. But we’ll still rally our friends to paddle out again and meet every cruise ship due to arrive in the bay to educate passengers – and tell the cruise lines to start valuing the animals that call this place home more than their profits.”