Jade Collection in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is amending the regulations and Designation Document for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or Sanctuary) to allow limited, small- scale collection of jade from the Jade Cove area of the Sanctuary. For a number of years prior to the designation of the MBNMS, tourists and local residents routinely visited the Jade Cove area to explore for and collect pieces of the naturally occurring jade. This final rule will allow, under certain circumstances, these types of activities to occur while still protecting Sanctuary resources.