Marine Science & Conservation
From Ed Ricketts to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute · Monterey County
Monterey Bay is one of the most scientifically important marine environments on Earth. A submarine canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon plunges just offshore, creating extraordinary biodiversity. The region's tradition of marine science began with Ed Ricketts' tide pool research in the 1930s and continues through world-leading institutions today.
Timeline
Ed Ricketts & Pacific Biological Laboratories
Ed Ricketts — Steinbeck's 'Doc' in Cannery Row — establishes Pacific Biological Laboratories at 800 Cannery Row. His groundbreaking book 'Between Pacific Tides' (1939), co-authored with Jack Calvin, revolutionizes the study of intertidal ecology. Ricketts' holistic approach to marine ecosystems anticipated modern ecological thinking by decades.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Opens
David and Lucile Packard fund the transformation of the Hovden Cannery into the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which opens on October 20, 1984. The aquarium pioneers the use of living kelp forests in exhibit tanks and becomes one of the most visited aquariums in the world. It is the crown jewel of Cannery Row's reinvention.
MBARI Founded
David Packard founds the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), dedicated to deep-sea research and ocean technology. MBARI's remotely operated vehicles explore the Monterey Canyon — reaching depths of 4,000 meters — and have discovered dozens of new species. The canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon and begins just 100 yards offshore.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The federal government designates the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, protecting 6,094 square miles of ocean — the largest national marine sanctuary in the contiguous United States. The sanctuary stretches from Marin County to Cambria and encompasses some of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet.
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