Ocean Liner Visits to the Monterey Bay

December 4, 2002

Sanctuary Advisory Council
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
299 Foam Street
Monterey, CA 93940

Dear Council Members:

The League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula requests the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Advisory Council (SAC) to recommend close observation of the ocean liner visits to the Monterey Bay. Based on our support of preserving water quality in coastal waters, we request that the SAC advocate for close regulation of the discharge of trash and wastewater into Sanctuary waters. The League looks forward to eventual Sanctuary regulations concerning discharge into the Sanctuary. In the short term, however, the League supports a voluntary No Discharge policy applicable to all cruise lines with all visiting liners providing complete records to the Sanctuary concerning compliance.

In addition, we are increasingly concerned about the likely future expansion of cruise ship activity in the Bay and thus about its cumulative environmental impacts on the irreplaceable ocean resources protected by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Given this eventuality, we strongly urge the SAC and the Sanctuary to begin now to evaluate likely scenarios for future cruise ship visitations and to develop realistic guidelines and if warranted, Sanctuary regulations governing discharge practices , the allowable frequency of visits, special areas for anchoring and mooring, and protocols for passenger transport.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Beverly Bean, President