Our Work

We are the official nonprofit partner to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and its chief advocate. We engage the public through outreach and education programs; develop and strengthen partnerships to protect ecosystem health; and directly support programs and projects that center around science and conservation. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary has a diversity of marine life found nowhere else on the planet. Our goal is to inspire the public to protect Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and create the next generation of ocean stewards.

Team OCEAN

Team OCEAN (Ocean Conservation Education Action Network) uses trained, knowledgeable naturalists who volunteer their time to talk with the public about the sanctuary and how to protect sensitive wildlife. Volunteers interact with over 5,000 people per year and their presence helps keep boaters from harming sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, birds, and other wildlife. Team OCEAN volunteers can be found in Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing and along the kelp beds off Cannery Row in Monterey

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Whale Rescue

Monterey Bay is home to 10 species of endangered whales. The sanctuary provides critical support to permitted responders on their mission to disentangle whales that become caught in fishing gear. Investments enable the response network to purchase equipment and fuel to spend more time on the water to locate, track and attend to entangled whales. Whale disentanglement prevents unnecessary deaths of these iconic species. With the appropriate equipment which includes the most up-to-date technology, and the use of support vessels, whale rescue volunteers will have the best tools to help track down and free an entangled whale.