| Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
 Big Sur coastline looking north to Bixby Canyon Bridge. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. | |
 Map of the sanctuary | |
| Location | California's central coast, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°48′N 122°30′W / 36.8°N 122.5°W |
| Area | 6,094 sq mi (15,780 km2) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | NOAA National Ocean Service |
| montereybay | |
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) is a federally protected marine area offshore of California's Big Sur and central coast in the United States. It is the largest US national marine sanctuary and has a shoreline length of 276 miles (444 km) stretching from just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco to Cambria in San Luis Obispo County. Supporting one of the world's most diverse marine ecosystems, it is home to numerous mammals, seabirds, fishes, invertebrates and plants in a remarkably productive coastal environment. The MBNMS was established in 1992 for the purpose of resource protection, research, education, and public use.