Monterey, California, is a beautiful seaside town filled with tourists enjoying its modern attractions. The bay is a protected ocean area, home to many different species of marine life from the California coast. But as I walk through this bustling town, I can’t help but wonder about its past.
Before Monterey became a tourist hotspot, it was famous for something else—sardines! People didn’t come here to watch fish; they came to catch them, especially sardines, which were plentiful. To learn more about this, I needed to talk to someone who knew the history and had a sardine in hand.
The Monterey sardine was known for being oily and perfect for making fish meal. Fish meal is used as fertilizer and animal feed, and it was a big business back then. During wartime, there was a huge demand for cheap and healthy protein, and sardines fit the bill perfectly. Even the heads, tails, and guts of the fish were valuable, as they could be turned into animal feed or fertilizer.
Between the two World Wars, Monterey became the sardine capital of the world, a story famously told in John Steinbeck’s book “Cannery Row.” It seemed like there were endless sardines in the bay. At its peak, Monterey Bay saw an average of 235,000 tons of sardines harvested each season!
However, in 1930, a warning was issued at the annual sardine conference. Experts from Fish and Game cautioned that if the fishing continued at such high levels, the sardine population would collapse. Sadly, this warning was ignored.
After World War II, fishermen kept trying to catch sardines but often returned empty-handed. Overfishing and natural changes led to the disappearance of sardines and the closure of the canneries in Monterey.
The character Doc from “Cannery Row” was inspired by Ed Ricketts, a marine biologist and Steinbeck’s friend. Ricketts and Steinbeck developed a philosophy about nature based on the tide pools in Monterey. They believed that all species living near each other are connected in complex ways, even if we can’t always see it.
Ed and other scientists warned fishermen that taking too much from one species was unsustainable and would have consequences. This idea might seem obvious now, but back then, the field of ecology was just beginning.
Since Europeans arrived in Monterey Bay, there has been a pattern of overusing one species after another—whales, salmon, sardines, and otters. When otters disappeared, the animals they preyed on, like sea urchins and abalone, multiplied, damaging the kelp forest and the entire ecosystem.
Eventually, people realized that sardines were no longer coming from the bay. So, what happened next? Tourism became a vital part of Monterey’s economy. The opening of the aquarium in 1984 played a significant role in this transformation.
As the sardine boats left, nature slowly began to recover, and the aquarium became a symbol of this revival. A new ecosystem has emerged, with scientists and nature lovers working together to uphold Ed Ricketts’ philosophy. Today, Monterey Bay is not just about fishing; it’s about connecting with nature. Instead of exporting sardines in cans, Monterey is now home to a community of sardine enthusiasts.
Monterey’s story teaches us the importance of understanding and respecting the delicate balance of nature. By staying curious and learning from the past, we can help protect our environment for future generations.
Create a timeline of Monterey’s history, focusing on the sardine industry and its transition to tourism. Use online tools or poster boards to illustrate key events. Include images, dates, and short descriptions. This will help you visualize the sequence of events and understand the impact of each phase on Monterey’s development.
Participate in a role-playing debate where you represent different stakeholders from Monterey’s past, such as a sardine fisherman, a marine biologist, or a tourism promoter. Discuss the pros and cons of the sardine industry and tourism. This activity will help you understand different perspectives and the complexities of economic and environmental decisions.
Engage in a game where you create an “ecology web” using string and cards to represent different species in Monterey Bay. Connect the species to show their relationships. When one species is affected, see how it impacts others. This will demonstrate the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the importance of balance.
Watch a documentary about Monterey Bay’s marine life and its conservation efforts. After viewing, discuss in groups how the lessons from the past have shaped current conservation practices. This will enhance your understanding of the importance of preserving natural habitats.
Write a short story or diary entry from the perspective of a sardine during the boom and bust of the sardine industry. Describe the changes in the environment and the impact on marine life. This creative exercise will help you empathize with the ecosystem and reflect on human impact on nature.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
[MUSIC] Monterey, California. An idyllic seaside town. Tourists fill its busy streets, with modern comforts at every turn. The bay is an ocean sanctuary, home to hundreds of species from up and down the California coast. As I walk around this tourist town, I sense that it wasn’t always like this.
Long before people came to Monterey to watch fish, they came here to catch them, particularly one fish in abundance. To gain more insight, I needed someone with historical knowledge—and a sardine in hand.
This is the Monterey sardine. This fish is known for producing a lot of oil and is substantial enough to create a significant amount of fish meal. What is fish meal? It’s used for fertilizer and animal feed, and there was considerable profit in this.
War had created a demand for a cheap and healthy source of protein, but the real profit came from the fish heads, tails, and guts. These parts were cooked down and used as animal feed or fertilizer. Between the two World Wars, Monterey became the sardine capital of the world, eventually immortalized in John Steinbeck’s book ‘Cannery Row.’ It seemed like there was an endless supply of sardines in the bay.
At the peak of this industry, how many sardines were being harvested from Monterey Bay? An average of two hundred and thirty-five thousand tons of sardines every season. In 1930, at the annual sardine conference, Fish and Game presented a paper warning that unless smaller catches were taken, the sardine population would collapse in a few years. Unfortunately, this warning went unheeded.
In the years following World War II, fishermen continued their practices but returned empty-handed due to overfishing and natural cycles, leading to the disappearance of sardines and the canneries in Monterey.
Cannery Row’s famous character Doc was based on Steinbeck’s best friend Ed Ricketts, a marine biologist who worked out of a local lab. Steinbeck and Ricketts developed a philosophy of nature based on the tide pools in Monterey. They believed that species living near one another are interconnected in complex ways that often remain invisible to us.
Ed and other scientists had been warning fishermen for years that it was unsustainable to take as much as they wanted from a single species without expecting consequences. This concept seems obvious today, but the field of ecology was just emerging at that time.
Since the arrival of Europeans in Monterey Bay, there has been a pattern of depleting one species after another—whales, fish like salmon and sardines, and otters. When the otters disappeared, the animals they preyed upon, like sea urchins and abalone, proliferated, leading to the destruction of the kelp forest and harming the entire ecosystem.
One day, people realized that sardines were no longer coming from the bay. What happened then? Tourism became a crucial lifeline for Monterey. The aquarium played a significant role in this transformation. The area changed dramatically when the aquarium opened in 1984.
Years after the sardine boats left, nature began to gradually return, and the aquarium became part of this revival. A new ecosystem has emerged, with scientists and nature enthusiasts collaborating to uphold Ed Ricketts’ philosophy. Nowadays, Monterey Bay is not just about fishing; it’s about fostering a connection to nature. Instead of exporting sardines in cans, they are cultivating a community of sardine enthusiasts.
Stay curious.
Monterey – A city in California known for its rich marine life and historical significance in the fishing industry. – Monterey was once famous for its sardine canning industry, which played a significant role in its local economy.
Sardines – Small, oily fish that are often found in large schools and are important for marine ecosystems and human consumption. – The decline in sardines due to overfishing had a major impact on the marine food chain in Monterey Bay.
Ecology – The branch of biology that deals with the relationships between living organisms and their environment. – Studying the ecology of Monterey Bay helps scientists understand how different species interact with each other and their surroundings.
Tourism – The business of providing services to people who are traveling for pleasure, often to see natural or historical sites. – Tourism in Monterey has increased due to the popularity of its aquarium and beautiful coastal views.
Overfishing – The practice of catching too many fish at once, which can lead to the depletion of fish populations. – Overfishing in the early 20th century led to the collapse of the sardine industry in Monterey.
Marine – Related to the sea or ocean, especially in terms of ecosystems and organisms. – Marine biologists study the diverse life forms found in the ocean to understand their roles in the ecosystem.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The preservation of endangered species is crucial for maintaining biodiversity in marine ecosystems.
Ecosystem – A community of living organisms and their physical environment, interacting as a system. – The kelp forest ecosystem in Monterey Bay supports a wide variety of marine life.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of Monterey is closely tied to its development as a major fishing port in the early 1900s.
Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources and the environment. – Conservation efforts in Monterey Bay aim to protect marine habitats and ensure sustainable fishing practices.
