By signing this petition, you are supporting the protection of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary in California. This Sanctuary is home to one of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems, nurturing a habitat for whales, dolphins, sharks, seals, otters, sea birds, hundreds of species of fish, kelp forests, and much more.

This year, 19 cruise ships are scheduled to anchor off the Monterey wharf, running diesel engines their entire stay, and sending a smoke stack looming overhead. Threats that face the marine sanctuary from these ships include air pollution from the exhaust, massive oil and sewage spills, endangerment to wildlife, as well as underwater noise disturbance from the engines; impacting wildlife above and below the surface.

The Monterey Bay wharf was not designed for cruise ships, nor should a marine sanctuary be subjected to a potential and avoidable environmental catastrophe. It is our duty as a community to stand up for our marine environment and protect this amazing ecosystem for future generations. We can all be apart of the solution by educating ourselves on these issues, attending city council meetings to voice our opinions, and speaking with local residents and organizations to gain support and awareness.

As a community, we can set a precedence for marine sanctuaries by limiting our societies encroachment on wild lands and marine ecosystems. Peacefully and politely, let’s make our voices heard, and make it clear that these ships have no purpose here.

Millions of tourists travel to admire this beautiful stretch of coastline each year. They come to look out on the Pacific Ocean to see wildlife they never could of imagined. In one day it’s possible to see whales spouting and breaching, dolphins surfing the waves, seals basking on rocks, huge flocks of seabirds, and otters playing in the kelp forests. You could spend a lifetime exploring the magic of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary and barely skim the surface of what this place has to offer.

Humanities desire to live in comfort and convenience has a significant impact on the health of the world. By making educated and passionate choices, we can create a future that respects all life on Earth. Let’s begin by banning luxury cruise lines from entering fragile marine sanctuaries to insure a brighter future. Thank you for your support!