Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Volunteer and Intern Opportunities

The sanctuary and its partners offer a variety of positions and volunteer stewardship possibilities.

Internship opportunities are available to undergraduate or graduate college students. At this time we are not able to offer internships to high school students. Please note that all internship positions are volunteer (not paid) and will be selected on a competitive basis. Applicants are responsible for all paying all individual expenses associated with relocation, travel, and room and board. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) does not provide assistance with housing or transportation. Materials, supplies and office support for work related assignments will be provided. The MBNMS main office is located in Monterey, California with satellite offices in Santa Cruz and San Simeon.

The MBNMS accepts applications year-round. To apply for an internship position, please complete and submit (via mail, fax or e-mail) the attached application to:

Karen Grimmer, Program OperationsCoordinator
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
299 Foam Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Email: karen.grimmer@noaa.gov
Fax: (831) 647-4250
Phone: (831) 647-4253

Additionally, the Coastal Services Center of NOAA (in Charleston, SC) has developed a marine and coastal related "Internship - Fellowship Opportunities Webpage." It is a great resource for internships and fellowships nationally.

MBNMS Internships at CSU Monterey Bay can be found here:
http://essp.csumb.edu/internships/internships/Opportunities.htm

The Sanctuary currently has a small corps of volunteers working to support the activites and management of the 5,300 sq. mile marine protected area. Here are just a few ways you can get involved.

Volunteer Oppertunities:

BeachCOMBER Volunteers--A beach monitoring study utilizing volunteers to sample selected beaches for dead mammals and birds.

Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network--An organized network for volunteer water quality monitoring.

Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC)--An appointed group of individuals representing agencies, user groups, interest groups, and partners, who provide input on the management of the Sanctuary

SAC Working Groups--Four working groups meet to discuss topics pertaining to Research (RAP), Education (SEP), Conservation (CWG), and Business & Tourism (BTAP).

TeamOCEAN--Puts knowledgeable naturalists out on the water in sanctuary kayaks, to greet and interact with fellow day kayakers.

Opportunities with Other Organizations

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About The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

What Is A National Marine Sanctuary?
A national marine sanctuary is a special place--an underwater world so rich in biological or cultural resources that it is protected and managed by the federal government. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, established in September 1992, is one of twelve marine sanctuaries nationwide.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) manages the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the other sanctuaries to protect their natural beauty and bounty for present and future generations. NOAA managers balance resource protection with recreational and commercial uses. For each sanctuary, managers develop and follow a management plan that provides for basic research and for the education of visitors and residents in caring for each sanctuary's treasures.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the nation's largest marine sanctuary, spans over 5,300 square miles of coastal waters off central California. The Sanctuary stretches along more than 300 miles of coastline, from Marin County near San Francisco southward to Cambria in San Luis Obispo County, and from the high tide line to an average of 35 miles offshore.

The Sanctuary protects many habitats from rugged rocky shores and lush kelp forests to one of the deepest underwater canyons on the west coast. The Sanctuary's nutrient-rich waters provide a haven for squid, rockfish, seabirds, sea otters, whales and thousands of other species, some of which are threatened or endangered.

Mission
Our mission is to manage and protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to ensure its continued ecological and cultural integrity for present and future generations.

Major goals include protecting the Sanctuary's biological and cultural resources; conducting research & monitoring of Sanctuary habitats and organisms; providing public education to promote stewardship of the Sanctuary; and facilitiating mulitple-use and human activities within the Sanctuary.