12th Annual Whalefest Monterey Announces New Dates: March 19 and 20, 2022
12th Annual Whalefest Monterey Announces New Dates: March 19 and 20, 2022
The Monterey Bay Whale Watching Capital of the World
February 19, 2022. Monterey, CA. Save the date for the 12th Annual Whalefest Monterey on Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20, 2022.
This "edutaining" family friendly event will be held at and around Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza -Monterey State Historic Park. It includes fun activities for all ages, musicians, boat displays and dozens of fascinating marine-related interactive exhibits by numerous local organizations.
Whalefest Monterey benefits many local and national marine organizations that educate, inspire, and empower the public to protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). Of special note is that in 2022, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will be celebrating its 50th anniversary of ocean protection and the 30th anniversary of the local Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
The event will also feature a 2-day Symposium with world-renowned marine experts and historians at Heritage Harbor adjacent to the Recreation Trail and just steps away from the Wharf. The Symposium is held at an indoor venue generously made available by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It will follow their COVID protocol which requires proof of vaccination or negative test within 24 hours to enter as well as wearing masks, subject to change. For current information, go to https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/visit/proof-covid19-vaccination-required.
Whalefest Monterey will feature many educational and engaging displays from local, regional and national non-profits that include:
American Cetacean Society
California Coastal Commission
Camp SEA Lab
Community Builders for Monterey County
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Marine Life Studies
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary MBNMS
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Santa Catalina Middle School
Save Our Shores
Save the Whales/MontereySEA
Sea Otter Savvy
Seafloor Science ROV
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Surfrider Foundation
Sustainability Office, City of Monterey
The Marine Mammal Center
The Wahine Project
Ventana Wildlife Society
Yacht Club - Monterey Peninsula
(Note: Subject to change.)
Fisheries Historian Tim Thomas will conduct two one-hour Wharf Walks both days at 11:00 am and 12:30 pm.
Whale watchers come from around the world to view hundreds of whales, orcas, dolphins and pelicans who come to feast on a “krill and anchovy buffet” in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Throughout the year, this Whale Watching Capital of the World offers sightings of 15 species of whales, 10 species of dolphins, 2 species of porpoise, 6 species of pinnipeds and 1 species of Fissiped (sea otter).
Whalefest Monterey is supported by many outstanding sponsors including the Arts Council for Monterey County, thanks to support from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Fisherman’s Wharf Association, Marine Life Studies, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Mechanics Bank, Bay Federal Credit Union, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Monterey County Bank and Andronicos. Media sponsors include KSBW TV Action News 8, Central Coast ABC, Estrella TV Costa Central, KAZU FM 90.3 FM, Foolish Times and the Shagbag Radio Show. Corporate sponsorships are still available. Please contact Mary Alice Cerrito Fettis at [email protected] for more details.
About NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Serving as the trustee for 14 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments, NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary System encompasses more than 600,000 square miles of protected marine and Great Lakes waters. Few places on the planet can compete with the diversity of the system, which protects America's most iconic natural and cultural marine resources. The system works with diverse partners and stakeholders to promote responsible, sustainable ocean uses that ensure the health of our most valued ocean places. A healthy ocean is the basis for thriving recreation, tourism and commercial activities that drive coastal economies. Backed by one of the nation's strongest pieces of ocean conservation legislation, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, sanctuaries seek to preserve the extraordinary scenic beauty, biodiversity, historical connections. and economic productivity of our most precious underwater parks.
For more information to www.montereywharf.com or www.whalefest.org or call 831-238-0777 or email [email protected]