The Issue

The Monterey Bay region, with its complex geologic setting and diversity of marine life, has become a treasured marine environment of national importance. This importance was recognized in 1992, with the establishment of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the largest of the U.S. marine sanctuaries.

As the California population continues to grow and to migrate to coastal regions such as Monterey Bay, our ability to accommodate such growth while maintaining high living standards and protecting the natural ecosystems depends on our ability to understand the marine ecosystems. The cradle for these ecosystems - the geology, morphology, and active geologic processes of the seafloor - is still largely unknown.