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
of the Gulf of Mexico for calving and mating.
The female Northern Elephant Seal population peaks around January 24 at
their breeding colonies (Año Nuevo State Reserve and Piedras Blancas
beach) in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; the number of newly-born
pups peaks shortly after.
10th
- Friends
of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Seminar: Hot time for Coral:
Coral Bleaching and The Human Connection. Dr. Steve Webster, Senior
Marine Biologist, Monterey Bay Aquarium, 7:00 p.m. Seminar Room at Moss
Landing Marine Laboratory, Moss Landing. All community seminars are
free and open to the public. (831) 633-MLML
12th
- Meeting of the Research Activity Panel - 9 am to 12:00 pm - Conference
Room at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary office (299 Foam
Street, Monterey). For more information call (831) 647-4213.
16th
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Conservation Working Group
Meeting. 9:30 to 12:30 am. Meeting at the Moss Landing Harbor District
Meeting Room.
20th
- Splash Zone Workshop at Monterey Bay Aquarium; 8:30 am - 4:30 pm;
Teachers in grades Pre-K - 2; Cost $35; For more information call (831)
648-4846
25th
- Business and Tourism Activity Panel Meeting. 9:30 am - 11:30 pm. Location:
Monterey Bay NMS Conference Room. 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA.
25th
- American Cetacean Society - Monterey Bay Chapter Lecture: Migration
Timing and Mortality in Gray Whales: have there been changes in recent
years Kim Shelden, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7:30 pm, Hopkins
Marine Station, Lecture Hall (Boatworks Building).
27th
- Sanctuary Student Summit Cruise, students will learn water quality
monitoring methods on the bay and will record Gray Whale sightings.
February
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.
2nd
- Monterey Bay NMS Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting. 9:00 am -
4:00 pm at the Best Western Beach Resort in Monterey.
2nd
- California Regional Water Quality Control Board Meeting. Regional
Board Conference Room. 81 Higuera Street, Room 200, San Luis Obispo,
CA
9th
- Meeting of the Research Activity Panel - 9 am to 12 pm- National
Marine Fisheries Service, Santa Cruz. For more information call (831)
647-4213.
10th
- Monterey Harbor Underwater Cleanup - divers collect debris and
trash from the Monterey Harbor area. In the last underwater harbor cleanup,
over 120 divers netted over 5,000 pounds of items and received about
$3,000 in prizes donated from local dive shops and businesses. Registration
starts at 8:30 am at the base of the Commercial Wharf II.
10th
- National Ocean Science Bowl at University of California, Santa
Cruz; For more information call (831) 646-1189.
17th
- American Association for the Advance of Science: Presentations
at the Annual Meeting in San Francisco: The Scientific Theory of Marine
Reserves (9 am to 12 pm) and The Melding the Science and Policy of Marine
Reserves (2:45 pm to 4:15 pm). Hilton San Francisco and Towers Hotel,
333 O'Farrell Street. Attendance of the session will require a one day
registration to the AAAS Annual Meeting. The cost for a "One-day Passport" registration is $130 for AAAS members or $155 for non members. For more
info. http://www.aaas.org/meetings/2001/advance2001.html.
24th
- New Teacher Workshop at Monterey Bay Aquarium; 8:30 am - 4:30
pm; Teachers in grades K-12; Cost $25; For more information call (831)
648-4846.
28th
- Monterey Public Forum on Protecting Beach Water Quality in Monterey
Bay. Public forum to learn about bacterial contamination of local beaches,
what's being done by a variety of groups and agencies to better monitor
and address the issue, and how individuals can be part of the solution.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
March
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 adult Northern Elephant Seals have returned to sea to feed,
leaving the pups behind on beaches at Año Nuevo State Reserve and
Piedras Blancas to fend for themselves.
1st
- Santa Cruz Public Forum on Protecting Beach Water Quality in Monterey
Bay. Public forum to learn about bacterial contamination of local beaches,
what's being done by a variety of groups and agencies to better monitor
and address the issue, and how individuals can be part of the solution.
Long Marine Lab, Seymour Center, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
7th
- Marine Conservation Public Forum Series entitled "Saving our Seas:
New Approaches for a New Millenium." The first series will be "The Value
of Ocean Wilderness"
Dr.
Roger Payne: Impassioned plea for the Oceans
Dr.
Jane Lubchenco: Our Oceans, Ourselves.
Dr.
Michael Orbach: Human Dimension of Ocean and Coastal Issues.
Public
Programs presented by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Friends of Moss Landing
Marine Labs, UC Sea Grant, and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation.
7:00 - 9:00 pm in the auditorium of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Admission:
Members of Friends or the Aquarium $8/forum ($20 for three forum series),
General public $10/session ($25 for series).
10th
- Sardine Fiesta at the Maritime Museum of Monterey.
16th
- Sanctuary
Currents Symposium, "Fishing for our Future" at the Monterey Hyatt
Hotel. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine
Fisheries Service jointly present the current status of salmonid populations
in the Sanctuary, the complex suite of causes underlying the decline,
and various local activities underway to restore populations.
17th
- Sanctuary
Currents Symposium, "Fishing for our Future" at the Monterey Hyatt
Hotel. The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments and the Monterey
Bay National Marine Sanctuary invites the public to hear from fisheries
experts &endash; scientists, managers, conservationists and fishing
representatives as they discuss marine fisheries conservation and management
issues in the Sanctuary. A Student Summit meeting will conveign during
lunch break. Student posters will also be displayed.
23rd
- California Regional Water Quality Control Board Meeting. Salinas
City Council Chamber Rotunda. 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas, CA.
24th
- Deep Sea Workshop at Monterey Bay Aquarium; 8:30 am - 4:30 pm;
Teachers in grades 6-8, 9-12; Cost $35; For more information call (831)
648-4846
April
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.
4th - Public Lecture and discussion on the "Great Gulf", a book about fisheries
management in New England. Lecture in cooperation with COMPASS. Place
to be determined.
6th
- Monterey Bay NMS Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting. 9:00 am - 4:00
pm. Location TBD.
13th
- Meeting of the Research Activity Panel - 9 am to 12 pm- Monterey Bay
Aquarium, Monterey. For more information call (831) 647-4213.
18th - Marine Conservation Public Forum Series entitled "Saving our Seas:
New Approaches for a New Millenium." The second series will be "Back
to the Future: True Tales of Past Abundance"
Dr.
Milton Love: How Rockfish populations have declined
Dr.
Jim Estes: Changing Ecosystems &endash; the Alaska Story
Dr.
Jim Lichatowich: the Salmon Crisis
Public
Programs presented by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Friends of Moss Landing
Marine Labs, UC Sea Grant, and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation.
7:00 - 9:00 pm in the auditorium of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Admission:
Members of Friends or the Aquarium $8/forum ($20 for three forum series),
General public $10/session ($25 for series).
22nd
- Earth Day Activities - Snap Shot day, volunteers trained in water
quality monitoring techniques will sample the sanctuary waters at multiple
points along the 300 mile coastline of the MNBNS. Student Summit participants
will attend this event.
25th
- Business and Tourism Activity Panel Meeting. 9:30 am - 11:30 pm. Location
TBD.
26th
- Sanctuary Student Summit will be held in Monterey, students will present
the results of their projects to teachers, students and local researchers.
This year's theme is environmental monitoring in the Sanctuary and its
watersheds. For more information call (831) 420-1630
28th
- New Teacher Workshop at Monterey Bay Aquarium; 8:30am - 4:30pm; Teachers
in grades pre- K - 2; Cost $25; For more information call (831) 648-4846
28th
- ROV Contest at the Monterey Sports Center, 301 E. Franklin Street,
Monterey CA, 6-10 p.m. For more information call1-831-644-7504
May
2nd - Marine Conservation Public Forum Series entitled "Saving our Seas
New Appraches for a New Millenium."
Dr.Rosamond
Naylor: Farming up the Food Web
Dr.
Callum Robers: New Approaches to Marine Reserves
Dr.
Daniel Pauly: Our Future in Our Hands
Public
Programs presented by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Friends of Moss Landing
Marine Labs, UC Sea Grant, and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation.
7:00 - 9:00 pm in the auditorium of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Admission:
Members of Friends or the Aquarium $8/forum ($20 for three forum series),
General public $10/session ($25 for series).
11th Meeting of the Research Activity Panel - 9 am to 12 pm- CA Department
of Fish & Game. For more information call (831) 647-4213.
18th
California Regional Water Quality Control Board Meeting. Regional
Board Conference Room. 81 Higuera Street, Room 200, San Luis Obispo,
CA
19th - Surfrider of Santa Cruz holds their annual Storm Drain Stencilling
Kick Off at Pleasure Point Park in Santa Cruz, beginning at 10 am. Volunteers
are invited to help paint storm drains around the city with the message, "No Dumping Flows to Bay." Meet at 10 am at the Park, 32nd Ave. and
East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.
30th - Public Forum on Upcoming Ocean Initiatives in California and How YOU
Can Get Involved in Marine Sanctuary and Ocean Protection. 7:00 pm -
9:00 pm, Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa
Cruz; for more information call CMC at (831) 425-1363 or SOS at (831)
462-5660.
June
1st
- Monterey Bay NMS Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting. 9:00 am -
4:00 pm, location TBD
1st & 2nd week - Monterey Bay Regional Partnership Summer Institute.
For more information call the MATE Center at (831) 646-3082 or visit
http://www.marinetech.org
19th
- Sanctuary Conservation Working Group meeting. 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Moss
Landing Harbor District office.
July
Humpback
whales and blue whales can be sighted feeding on large schools of fish
and krill in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary through October.
8-15th
- Teacher Institute at Monterey Bay Aquarium
10th
- California Department of Fish and Game's Marine Life Protection Act
Siting Work shop on network of marine protected ares, North Central
Region. 7:00-10:00 PM, Half Moon Bay High School, Lewis Foster Drive.
Call (831) 649-2883 for information.
13th
- Meeting of the Research Activity Panel - 9 am to 12 pm - Monterey
Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing. For more information
call (831) 647-4213.
13th
- California Regional Water Quality Control Board Meeting. Regional
Board Conference Room. 81 Higuera Street, Room 200, San Luis Obispo,
CA
16th
- California Department of Fish and Game's Marine Life Protection Act
Siting Work shop on network of marine protected ares, South Central
Region. 7:00-10:00 PM, Seaside Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave.. Call
(831) 649-2883 for information.
17th
- Sanctuary Conservation Working Group meeting. 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Moss
Landing Harbor District office.
July
22 - Aug. 4th - 3rd Annual Summer Institute for Professional Development
at the MATE Center
25th - Business and Tourism Activity Panel Meeting. 9:30 am &endash; 11:30
pm. Location MBNMS Conference Room.
1-31st
- Great American Fish Count. After participating in a fish count training
seminar, divers will survey the Sanctuary's waters for fish diversity
and abundance. Please call (831) 647-4253 for more information.
August
Jellies
of all kinds are abundant in California coastal waters as the oceanic
season begins and upwelling winds start to relax. Through early November
in the Gulf of the Farallones, Cordell Bank, and Monterey Bay National
Marine Sanctuaries.
3rd
- Monterey Bay NMS Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting. 9:00 am - 4:00
pm. Location in Cambria
10th
- Meeting of the Research Activity Panel - 9 am to 12 pm - Sea Grant
Program, Moss Landing. For more information call (831) 647-4213.
16th
- Meeting of the Sanctuary Education Panel - 3:30 - 5:30 pm at the MBNMS
conference room in Monterey, 299 Foam Street, (831) 647-4201.
25th
- Clean Water Day Celebration-The annual event celebrating passage of
the Clean Water Act includes food, music and information booths. It
begins with a paddle out at 11:00 am, so bring your surf board, inner-tube,
or what ever. 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday at Cowell's Beach, Santa
Cruz. Please call (831) 426-9012 for more information.
28th - Sanctuary Conservation Working Group meeting, 9:30 am-12:30 pm at
Moss Landing Harbor District office.
September
12th
- Sanctuary Business and Tourism Activity Panel Meeting. 9:30 am - 11:30
pm in the Santa Cruz Harbor Conference Room.
14th
- Meeting of the Research Activity Panel and Annual BBQ- 9 am to 12
pm- Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove. For more information call
(831) 647-4213.
14th
- California Regional Water Quality Control Board Meeting. Seaside City
Council Chambers. 440 Harcourt Ave. Seaside, CA.
18th
- Sanctuary Conservation Working Group meeting. 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Moss
Landing Harbor District office.
20th
- Meeting of the Sanctuary Education Panel - 3:30 - 7:00 pm at Elkhorn
Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville,
(831) 728-2822 (Potluck)
October
5th
- Monterey Bay NMS Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting. 9:00 am - 4:00
pm. Location in Santa Cruz TBD.
16th
- Sanctuary Conservation Working Group meeting. 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Moss
Landing Harbor District office.
24th
- Sanctuary Business and Tourism Activity Panel Meeting. 9:30 am - 11:30
pm. Location TBD.
26th
- California Regional Water Quality Control Board Meeting. Regional
Board Conference Room. 81 Higuera Street, Room 200, San Luis Obispo,
CA
November
9th
- Meeting of the Research Activity Panel - 9 am to 12 pm - Moss Landing
Marine Labs, Moss Landing. For more information call (831) 647-4213.
20th
- Sanctuary Conservation Working Group meeting. 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Moss
Landing Harbor District office.
December
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 of the Gulf of
Mexico for calving and mating.
Northern
elephant seals arrive at their breeding colonies (Año 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 of ducks and geese rest and feed
in the lagoons and estuaries in the Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary and
northern portion of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary.
7th
- Monterey Bay NMS Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting. 9:00 am - 4:00
pm. Location in Half Moon Bay, TBD.
7th
- California Regional Water Quality Control Board Meeting. Regional
Board Conference Room. 81 Higuera Street, Room 200, San Luis Obispo,
CA
