Monterey Bay NMS Science Needs
Click on individual links below to learn more about the immediate science needs for critical management issues. For a full list of management issues and science needs, please review the MBNMS Management Plan. To contact us about the science needs described below, contact the Sanctuary Research Coordinators.

Beach Closures - Pathogen and Contaminants Research (Updated 5/1/2010)
The ability of managers to adequately protect Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) beach visitors from exposure to waterborne pathogens is hindered by the current slow methods of enumerating indicator bacteria.

Bottom Trawling - Habitat and Species Recovery (Updated 5/1/2010)
Protection of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) resources requires improved understanding of the recovery rates of seafloor habitats and associated taxa following the cessation of trawling activity; as well as the incidental mortality of non-target species associated with trawling.

Coastal Armoring, Erosions and Sand Transport (Updated 5/1/2010)
Hard coastal armoring in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) can potentially damage or alter local coastal habitats, interfere with sediment transport, increase erosion, and negatively impact biological resources.

Ecological Characterization of Davidson Seamount (Updated 5/1/2010)
The unique habitat and organisms associated with the Davidson Seamount need to be characterized and studied to assess management needs for resource protection.

Habitat Characterization of the Continental Shelf (Updated 5/1/2010)
Seafloor characterizations is necessary to ground-truth habitat maps, and inform management decisions at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary).

Human Health - Harmful Algal Blooms (Updated 5/1/2010)
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a naturally occurring event on the west coast. In the last 30 years they have increased in both frequency and intensity. Impacts include threats to marine wildlife, economic losses to fisheries and tourist industries, and human health. There is also a potential for long-term shifts in the function of the coastal ecosystems, from diatom-dominated upwelling to more pronounced fall blooms of dinoflagellates, which could alter the diatom-krill-fish trophic structure.

Introduced Species (Updated 5/1/2010)
Introduced species are a major economic and environmental threat to the living resources and habitats of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) as well as the commercial and recreational uses that depend on these resources.

Marine Zones (Updated 5/1/2010)
Impacts and Effectiveness - Monitoring in the recently established central California coast Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is necessary for further understanding of how this new level of protection will impact Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) resources.

Socioeconomics and the Human Dimension (Updated 5/1/2010)
Human activities clearly influence the quantity and quality of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) resources, including water quality, habitat, living resources, and maritime archaeological resources. However, more data on the spatial distribution and intensity of human activities and how those activities change through time are necessary to assess the level of these impacts.

Water Quality - Integrated Analyses (Updated 5/1/2010)
Management of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) water quality demands sophisticated data integration, analysis, and reporting across a diverse group of institutions.

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