Some animals like starfish, hold on tight with suction cup tube feet. Others like mussels, attach to the reef with tough fibrous threads. Harbor seals haul-out on the rock intertidal to rest. Along the shores of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary hundreds of harbor seals haul-out during the day where they can be viewed by the general public. Exposed rocky areas are often used as resting sites for many fish eating birds such as these cormorants in the the sunset.
Wetlands are one of the most misunderstood habitats on Earth.
Wetlands are one of the most biologically productive places on Earth. Here you can find hundreds of different invertebrates, including clams, which are an important food source for birds, fish, and even humans. Thousands of birds visit or lie in the wetland areas along the boundary of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. They come here for the abundance of food and refuge that these areas provide. Sunlight filters through the dense kelp canopy bringing light to the sea floor, which allows growth in the understory.