Twelve month calendar of Sanctuary events and meetings. Check back regularly for updates. To view calendars of other marine institutions around the sanctuary, click here.
If you know of an upcoming event of interest to the Sanctuary community, please contact the webmaster for this page so the event can be posted to this page. All postings are subject to approval by the MBNMS Superintendent.
14 - Sanctuary Research Activity Panel (RAP) Meeting, 9am-12pm, USGS office, Santa Cruz. For more information contact Andrew Devogelaere at (831) 647-4213
18 - Sanctuary Conservation Working Group Meeting (CWG) Meeting, 9:30am-12:30pm, Moss Landing Harbor District meeting room. For more information contact Holly Price at (831) 647-4247
22 - MERITO Watershed Academy Workshop from 9am-5pm at ESNERR. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831)-647-4211
24 - Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP) Meeting, 3:30pm-5:30pm, MBNMS Conference room. For more information contact Dawn Hayes at (831) 647-4256
25 - National Ocean Science Bowl's (NOSB) Otter Bowl Training from 6pm-9pm at MBNMS. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831)-647-4211
Natural History Events
Look for the blows of gray whales migrating south through the Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in December and January. Pregnant females come first, swimming along the coastline and are visible from shore as they head for the warm waters off of Baja California, Mexico for calving and mating.
The female Northern Elephant Seal population peaks around January 24 at their breeding colonies (A? Nuevo State Reserve and Piedras Blancas beach) in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; the number of newly-born pups peaks shortly after.
15 - NOSB Otter Bowl training at MBNMS from 6pm-9pm. For more informaiton contact Michelle Templeton at (831)-647-4211
16 - Network Steering Committee Meeting. 9:30AM, Santa Cruz Harbor Community Room Contact: Bridget Hoover, Network Coordinator (831) 883-9303 or email bhoover@monitoringnetwork.org
26 - National Ocean Science Bowl's (NOSB) Otter Bowl, 8am-5pm, Monterey Peninsula College. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831) 647-4211
Natural History Events
Peak Elephant Seal pupping season in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Gray whales continue journey from Alaska down to Baja Mexico, migrating through the Monterey Bay Sanctuary.
1 - TeamOCEAN informal volunteer meeting at 7PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512. Volunteer Flyer (52KB PDF)
12 - Sanctuary Currents 2005: ?Tracking the Health of Our Sanctuary?, Saturday March 12th at 8:45a.m.- 5:00 p.m. California State University, Monterey Bay, University Center, Sixth Street Seaside.The theme of this year's 13th annual Sanctuary Currents Symposium is tracking the health of the Sanctuary. The program will highlight the findings of monitoring efforts within the Sanctuary. This is a FREE EVENT! (Pre-Registration is greatly appreciated! Please call Petra Witkowsky at (831) 647-4209 or email her).
13 - MERITO Kayak Day from 12:30-4pm. Event participation by invite. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831)-647-4211
15 - Sanctuary Conservation Working Group Meeting (CWG) Meeting, 9:30am-12:30pm, Moss Landing Harbor District meeting room. For more information contact Holly price at (831) 647-4247
21 - Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP), 3:30pm-5:30pm, Location TBD. For More information contact Dawn hayes at (831) 647-4256
31 - First TeamOCEAN volunteer training session at 6:30PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512.
Natural History Events
Harbor seal pupping season. Gray Whale migration begins northward from Mexico to Alaska. Cow-calf pairs can seen nearshore throughout March.
By mid-march most of the adultNorthern Elephant Sealshave returned to sea to feed, leaving the pups behind on beaches at A? Nuevo State Reserve and Piedras Blancas to fend for themselves.
1 - Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting in Seaside atEmbasst Suites on Canyon Del Rey. Please contact Nicole Capps at (831) 647-4257 for more information.
7 - PUBLIC MEETINGS:Draft EIR/EIS for MBARI MARS Cabled Observatory Two public hearings will be held, one at 4:00 pm and one at 6:30 pm, at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA. For more information, call Dirdre Hall (831) 647-4207 or email her at deirdre.hall@noaa.gov
7 - TeamOCEAN volunteer training session at 6:30PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512.
8 - Sanctuary Research Activity Panel (RAP) Meeting, 9am-12pm, NMFS, Santa Cruz. For more information contact Andrew DeVogelaere at (831) 647-4213
9 - Good Ol Days of Pacific Grove. For more information contact Lisa Emanuelson at (831) 521-9512
14 - TeamOCEAN volunteer training session at 6:30PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512.
16- Snapshot Day 2004 Training Event - Santa Cruz. 9:00AM - 12:00 PM, Natural Bridges State Park Contact: Tamara Doan, Coastal Watershed Council (831) 464-9200
20 - McArthur II Cruise begins. Researchers will be mapping and characterizing the seafloor near Partington Canyon and North of Ano Nuevo using side-scanning sonar and a towed underwater video camera sled. For more information contact Jean DeMarignac at (831) 647-4214
21 - TeamOCEAN volunteer training session at 6:30PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512.
23- Snapshot Day 2004 Training Event -San Mateo. 9:00AM - 12:00 PM, San Gregorio Contact: Tamara Doan, Coastal Watershed Council (831) 464-9200
23- Snapshot Day 2004 Training Event - San Simeon. 9:00AM - 12:00 PM, MBNMS San Simeon Office Contact: Bridget Hoover, Network Coordinator (831) 883-9303 or email bhoover@monitoringnetwork.org
23 - Earth Day Celebration at Earthbound Farms. For more information contact Lisa Emanuelson at (831) 521-9512
28 - TeamOCEAN volunteer training session at 6:30PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512.
30- Snapshot Day 2004 Training Event - Monterey. 9:00AM - 12:00 PM, CSUMB Watershed Institute Contact: Bridget Hoover, Network Coordinator (831) 883-9303 or email bhoover@monitoringnetwork.org
Natural History Events
By late April most of the weaned Northern Elephant Seal pups have gone to sea to begin feeding. These pups are a favorite prey item for Great White Sharks.
Elephant seals are molting
The Snowy Plover nesting season begins in April, and runs through August - so please watch your step on the beach!
1 - MERITO's Tidepool Day from 10-2. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at
5 - TeamOCEAN volunteer training session at 6:30PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512.
8 - MERITO's participation in Mother's Day at ESNERR. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831) 647-4211
12 - TeamOCEAN volunteer training session at 6:30PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512.
13 - Sanctuary Research Activity Panel (RAP) Meeting, 9am-12pm, Elkhorn Slough NERR. For more information contact Andrew DeVogelaere at (831) 647-4213
15 - MERITO implements ESNERR's demographic surveys from 12-2 pm. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831) 647-4211
16 - Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP) Meeting 3:30pm-5:30pm, Location TBD. Fro more information contact Dawn Hayes at (831) 647-4256
19 - TeamOCEAN volunteer training session at 6:30PM. MBNMS Monterey office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Emanuelson by email or (831) 521-9512.
21 - MERITO's participation in Migrant Parent Conference to be held in Salinas from 8am-1pm. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831) 647-4211
22 - MERITO implements ESNERR's demographic surveys from 12-2 pm. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831) 647-4211
22 - Urban Watch Training - Capitola and Live Oaks. 9:30 - 1:00 PM, Location TBD. Contact: Tamara Doan, Coastal Watershed Council (831) 464-9200
27 - TeamOCEAN volunteer training session. This will be the first day on the water. For more informaiton contact Lisa Emanuelson at (831) 521-9512
Natural History Events
Sooty Shearwaters arriving to feed on the vast resources of the bay
The Snowy Plover nesting season begins- so please watch your step on the beach!
Harbor seals - Pupping is in full swing at the west beach of Hopkins Marine Station. Watch for them... always a rewarding experience.
Gray Whale moms and babies (18-20 ft., 2000+ lbs.) are still working their way up the coast during May. Look for them just outside the kelp line, and sometimes in the kelp beds themselves. See them along the Big Sur coast, off Point Lobos, along the Monterey peninsula, Marina, Aptos, Soquel, Capitola, Santa Cruz, and points north. Instead of crossing the open bay from Point Pinos to Santa Cruz, they tend to hug the coastline to protect their calves from Orcas and great white sharks.
Many sea birds,such as the California Mew, and Bonapartegulls; Common and Pacific Loons; Western and Eared Grebes; Surf Scooters, Red-breasted Mergansers, and others, are changing into their breeding plumage and heading back to their nesting grounds all over the western states, Canada and Mexico.
Sea lions - Fisherman's Wharf and the Coast Guard breakwater jetty are normally great places to see California sea lions of all ages, but they (most adults) are leaving the area to return to their breeding grounds on islands off Southern California (Channel Islands) and Baja (Mexico). (At this time the approach to the breakwater is closed to the public for security reasons). Expect an influx of displaced juvenile (male & some female) sea lions this month; the adults (mostly males) will usually return in August and September.
1 - Urban Watch Season Begins. Cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Seaside, Capitola, Live Oaks, Scotts Valley Contact: Bridget Hoover, Network Coordinator (831) 883-9303 or Tamara Doan, CWC (831) 464-9200
3 - Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting in Big Sur. Please contact Nicole Capps at (831) 647-4257 for more information
4 - Urban Watch Training - Scotts Valley. Location TBD Contact: Tamara Doan, Coastal Watershed Council (831) 464-9200
12 - MERITO Hike Day from 12:30-4:30 at ESNERR. Event participation by invite. For more information contact Michelle Templeton at (831)-647-4211
5-24 - McArthur IIcruise with CSCAPE. Researchers will be conducting marine mammal and marine bird surveys. For more information contact Jean deMarignac at (831) 647-4214
8 - Sanctuary Research Activity Panel (RAP), 9am-12pm, hosted by UC Sea Grant, MLML. For more information contact Andrew DeVogelaere at (831) 647-4213
25 - Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP) Meeting, 9 am to 5 pm in Cambria. For more information contact Dawn Hayes at (831) 647-4256
25 - 29 - MERITO participation in Moss Landing Marine Lab's Summer Teacher Institute. Click here for more information, or contact Michelle Templeton at (831) 647-4211.
Natural History Events
The Snowy Plover nesting season is in full swings- so please watch your step on the beach!
5 - Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting in Cambria. Please contact Nicole Capps at (831) 647-4257 for more information.
12 - Sanctuary Research Activity Panel (RAP) Meeting, 9am-12pm, Monterey Bay Aquarium. For more information contact Andrew DeVogelaere at (831) 647-4213
1-17 - ShearwaterCruise with PISCO. Researchers will be conducting fish surveys as well as monitoring trawling impacts. For more information contact Jean deMarignac at (831) 647-4214
9 - Sanctuary Research Activity Panel (RAP) Meeting, 1-5pm at ESNERR. For more information contact Andrew DeVogelaere at (831) 647-4213
17 - California Coastal Clean-Up Day. For more information contact Jean Scott at (831)-647-4228 or www.coast4u.org
18 - MBNMS' 13th Anniversary
18 - MERITO's Kayak Day from 12:30-4pm. Event participation by invite. For more informaiton contact Michelle Templeton at (831)-647-4211
19 - Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP) Meeting, 3:30-5:30pm at MLML. For more information contact Dawn Hayes at (831) 647-4256
20 - First Flush Training - Monterey, Pacific Grove and Seaside. 6:30 PM, MBNMS Office 299 Foam Street, Monterey Contact: Bridget Hoover, Network Coordinator (831) 883-9303 or email bhoover@monitoringnetwork.org
21 - First Flush Training - Santa Cruz, Capitola and Live Oaks. 6:30 PM, Call the Coastal Watershed Council for location Contact: Coastal Watershed Council (831) 426-9200 or email volunteers@coastalws.org
24 - First Flush Field Training and Monitoring Event
Monterey area meet at San Carlos Beach near the Coast Guard Pier. Monterey Contact: Bridget Hoover, Network Coordinator (831) 883-9303 or email bhoover@monitoringnetwork.org
Santa Cruz area contact the Coastal Watershed Council for meeting location. Santa Cruz Contact: Coastal Watershed Council (831) 426-9200 or email volunteers@coastalws.org
Half Moon Bay area meet at Gulf of the Farallones NMS Office. HMB Contact: Irina Kogan, GFNMS (650)712-8791 or email irina.kogan@noaa.gov
2 - Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting in San Mateo County. Please contact Nicole Capps at (831) 647-4257 for more information
Natural History Events
Look for the blows of gray whales migrating south through the Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in December and January. Pregnant females come first, swimming along the coastline and are visible from shore as they head for the warm waters off of Baja California, Mexico for calving and mating. Northern elephant seals arrive at their breeding colonies (A? Nuevo State Reserve and Piedras Blancas beach) in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Two-ton adult bulls arrive first and fight among themselves for dominant positions; as pregnant females come on shore, they join harems of the highest-ranking bulls. The female population peaks around January 24; the number of pups peaks shortly after. By mid-march most of the adult females and males have returned to sea, leaving the pups behind to fend for themselves. By late April most of the weaned pups have gone to sea to begin feeding.
Winter water fowl migrate through, 100,000's ofducksandgeeserest and feed in the lagoons and estuaries in the Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary and northern portion of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary.
