Conservationists, some 50,000 of whom dive and kayak in the Bay each year, have observed a decline in kelp. They argue that abalone farmers are taking kelp faster than it can replenish itself. This intensifies the harmful effects of pollution and global warming on the sensitive plants. As a result of these concerns, the Sanctuary and the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove have commissioned a study to explore the scope and determine the cause of any possible declines. It's a delicate process.
Marine productivity is the source of prosperity for cities along the coast.
But drastic restrictions may sour local economies. The Sanctuary Program's balancing act is mirrored around the world. As our population shifts to the coasts, fragile marine resources like kelp may not stand up to multiple use. In Monterey Bay as elsewhere, Ocean Futures is working to make sure that people have the information to make responsible decisions as they weigh the impacts of human activity on the marine environment.