Regulations

Regulations are an essential part of managing and protecting our national treasures for current and future generations. People are interested in using the sanctuary for a variety of activities, such as wildlife viewing, photography, and research. Some uses have a greater potential for impacting the natural and cultural resources than others. Some activities may not have a measurable effect in small amounts, yet have an undesirable cumulative effect if the amount of the activity is too great. The challenge is to strike a balance in what types and intensities of use are allowed so that those uses are sustainable and the resources are available to be enjoyed for generations to come.

The sanctuary's distance from shore makes enforcing regulations yet another challenge. We depend heavily on education, peer pressure and voluntary compliance with the regulations. When those are ineffective, partnerships with other government agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard are vital to enforcing sanctuary regulations.

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary regulations prohibit anchoring, stopping, and drifting within the sanctuary; conducting salvage or recovery operations; using diving, dredging, or wrecking devices; conducting underwater detonation; drilling in the seabed; laying cable; and trawling.  Access is generally limited to scientific research conducted under a permit issued by NOAA; however, special-use permits are issued for non-research visits to this historic vessel. Contact the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary for more information. 

Monitor Marine Sanctuary Final Regulations

This notice published the final regulations for the Monitor NMS.

Monitor Marine Sanctuary Interim Regulations

This notice published the designation of the Monitor NMS as of January 30, 1975. Comments were invited through March 7, 1975.