Ecological soundings

Research is a basic element of good sanctuary management. The kinds of research necessary to deal with management problems include: survey and assessment, characterization, monitoring, experimental work, and modeling. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the largest, deepest, and ecologically speaking, perhaps the most complex region for which NOAA´s Marine Sanctuary Program has research and management responsibilities. Monterey Bay is also home to a unique grouping of institutions, which taken together, comprise a powerful and growing synergy for the evolution of research technology and methods. The Bay´s proximity to Silicon Valley and its long tradition of classical marine research are both strongly evident factors in this evolutionary process. Examples of new technologies that have significant applicability to sanctuary research requirements everywhere are outlined