1. Monterey Bay: A Jewel in Our Own Backyard ENGR 100w Spring 2009

2. Where is Monterey Bay

3. Why is Monterey Bay Unique Monterey submarine canyon is one of the largest underwater canyons in the world Monterey submarine canyon is one of the largest underwater canyons in the world Deepest part 3,600 m below the surface (> 2 miles) Deepest part 3,600 m below the surface (> 2 miles) Shelf ~1 mile below surface (about depth of Grand Canyon) Shelf ~1 mile below surface (about depth of Grand Canyon) Habitat for many types of marine life Habitat for many types of marine life

4. Marine Life Nation’s largest kelp forest Nation’s largest kelp forest 33 species of marine mammals 33 species of marine mammals 94 species of birds 94 species of birds 345 species of fish 345 species of fish invertebrates invertebrates

5. Monterey Bay Habitats Kelp forest Kelp forest –Harbor seal, sea otter, rockfish and other fish, octopus, sea stars, snails, cormorants Sandy beaches Sandy beaches –Shrimp, sand crabs, birds, topsmelt Coastal dunes Coastal dunes –Salt grass, geese and other birds Rocky intertidal Rocky intertidal –Tide pools: snails, crabs, sea stars, anemones, chitons, limpids, mussels, etc. Deep ocean Deep ocean –Tuna, whales, shark, sea turtle, elephant seal, jellies, sea cucumber, lobster

6. Historical Context Site of John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row Site of John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row Sardines were abundant in the early part of 1900s Sardines were abundant in the early part of 1900s Largest fishery in Western hemisphere Largest fishery in Western hemisphere –726,000 tons of sardines during the peak season of 1936 19 canneries in Monterey 19 canneries in Monterey 1940s – sardines disappeared – became like a ghost town 1940s – sardines disappeared – became like a ghost town Sardines are returning – seems to be a natural cycle Sardines are returning – seems to be a natural cycle –50,000 tons of sardines in 2004

7. Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Federally protected marine area Federally protected marine area Designated in 1992 Designated in 1992 13,730 square kilometers (5360 square miles) 13,730 square kilometers (5360 square miles) Larger than Yellowstone or Yosemite National Park Larger than Yellowstone or Yosemite National Park

8. Purpose of Marine Sanctuary Protect resources Protect resources –marine life, kelp forest, beaches, etc. Preserve cultural landmarks Preserve cultural landmarks –shipwrecks, prehistoric archeological sites, etc. Research Research –monitor health of marine species –changes in habitats –seafloor mapping Education Education Public use Public use

9. Marine Sanctuary Management No oil drilling No oil drilling No dumping No dumping Fishing regulated Fishing regulated Wastewater regulated Wastewater regulated

10. Current Issues in Monterey Bay Agricultural runoff Agricultural runoff –pesticides, sediment, chemicals such as nitrogen & phosphorous, bacteria Urban runoff (storm water) Urban runoff (storm water) –oil, grease, pesticides, herbicides, soil, pet droppings, etc. Kelp harvesting Kelp harvesting Desalination Desalination CO 2 absorption  low oxygen dead zones CO 2 absorption  low oxygen dead zones Shipping Shipping

11. Albatross Eat squid and fish eggs floating on water Eat squid and fish eggs floating on water Floating plastics look like food Floating plastics look like food Pick it up and feed to young Pick it up and feed to young 40% of Laysan albatross chicks die from eating plastic bottle caps 40% of Laysan albatross chicks die from eating plastic bottle caps Found in a baby chick stomach Found in a baby chick stomach – “red, blue and orange bottle caps, a black spray nozzle, part of a green comb, a white golf tee and a clump of tiny dark squid beaks ensnared in a tangle of fishing line” (Weiss, 2006) Plastics from one albatross stomach http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/oceanissues/plastics_albatross /makana.aspx http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/oc eanissues/plastics_albatross/makana.aspx

12. Sea Otter Largest member of weasel family (45-65 lbs) Largest member of weasel family (45-65 lbs) Eat 25 % of weight each day Eat 25 % of weight each day –Sea urchins, abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails, & ~40 other marine species Important to health of kelp forest Important to health of kelp forest –Eats sea urchins, which feed on kelp Fur is most dense of any animal ~1 million hairs/in 2 Fur is most dense of any animal ~1 million hairs/in 2 Population devastated by fur trading in 19 th century Population devastated by fur trading in 19 th century –300,000  ~1000-2000 in early 1900s –2,750 in California in 2006 Credit: Scott Roland www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/ wildlife/sea_otter.php

13. Sea Otter – Keystone Species Listed as “threatened” under federal Endangered Species Act Listed as “threatened” under federal Endangered Species Act “Fully protected” under California state law “Fully protected” under California state law Threats Threats –Oil spills, habitat loss and degradation, food limitation, disease, fishing gear entrapment, conflict with shellfish fisheries Toxoplasma gondii causes protozoal encephalitis Toxoplasma gondii causes protozoal encephalitis –Enters ecosystem through improper disposal of cat litter Oil spills Oil spills –Mats fur  fur cannot retain air  die of hypothermia –1989 Exxon Valdez – 1000 sea otters died Where sea otters have disappeared, so have the kelp forests (keystone) Where sea otters have disappeared, so have the kelp forests (keystone) randsco.com/index.php/2006/07/06/ vancouver_island

14. Desalination Method of obtaining fresh water from salt water Method of obtaining fresh water from salt water 3 desal plants in Sanctuary 3 desal plants in Sanctuary Several additional plants proposed Several additional plants proposed Impacts Impacts –Brine waste effluent (2x salt of sea water), heavy and sinks to bottom becoming concentrated –Construction of offshore pipeline –Thermal pollution –Loss of marine species at intake –Encourage more growth Desalination plant montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/resmanissues/desalination.html

15. Want to know more? Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium Visit tidepools in Pacific Grove Visit tidepools in Pacific Grove