An outdoor ocean enthusiast paddled around a cruise ship this past week while the massive ship was anchored in the Monterey Bay. Brent Allen, of Carmel, circled his stand-up paddleboard around the Celebrity Infinity in hopes of getting more people talking about whether large cruise ships should be allowed into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.VIDEO: Brent Allen paddles around cruise ship"I noticed a floating building in the Monterey Bay that anchored for three days. I scratched my head, this is a National Marine Sanctuary? How in the world would a massive cruise ship be allowed to motor into this area?" Allen asked."People from all over the world come to visit this (unique) ocean nirvana, and in some ways, that is part of the problem," he said. Allen questions whether the economic benefit from more tourists exploring Monterey, Carmel, and Pebble Beach is worth the environmental risk. Celebrity Infinity carries about 2,000 passengers, is nearly 1,000 feet long, and weighs 91,000 tons. Allen asked Monterey's harbor master about how many cruise ships are permitted to sail into the bay, and who has the power to grant entry. "The City of Monterey enters into agreements with each of the cruise ship companies for their visits," the harbor master wrote in a letter to Allen. "The MBNMS (Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary) is an important partner in oversight and use, however they cannot limit ship traffic if in compliance with USCG rules and regulations," the harbor master wrote. Allen said he is concerned that more and more cruises are being permitted to enter the Monterey Bay. He can read more about Allen's research into the Monterey Bay and cruise ships on his website, BrentAllenOutside.comCruise ships that anchored in Monterey Bay:2013 3 days2014 7 days2015 6 days2016 2 days2017 13 days* 2018 is scheduled for 10 days

An outdoor ocean enthusiast paddled around a cruise ship this past week while the massive ship was anchored in the Monterey Bay.

Brent Allen, of Carmel, circled his stand-up paddleboard around the Celebrity Infinity in hopes of getting more people talking about whether large cruise ships should be allowed into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.


VIDEO: Brent Allen paddles around cruise ship

"I noticed a floating building in the Monterey Bay that anchored for three days. I scratched my head, this is a National Marine Sanctuary? How in the world would a massive cruise ship be allowed to motor into this area?" Allen asked.



"People from all over the world come to visit this (unique) ocean nirvana, and in some ways, that is part of the problem," he said.

Allen questions whether the economic benefit from more tourists exploring Monterey, Carmel, and Pebble Beach is worth the environmental risk.



Celebrity Infinity carries about 2,000 passengers, is nearly 1,000 feet long, and weighs 91,000 tons.



Allen asked Monterey's harbor master about how many cruise ships are permitted to sail into the bay, and who has the power to grant entry.

"The City of Monterey enters into agreements with each of the cruise ship companies for their visits," the harbor master wrote in a letter to Allen.

"The MBNMS (Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary) is an important partner in oversight and use, however they cannot limit ship traffic if in compliance with USCG rules and regulations," the harbor master wrote.

Allen said he is concerned that more and more cruises are being permitted to enter the Monterey Bay.

He can read more about Allen's research into the Monterey Bay and cruise ships on his website, BrentAllenOutside.com

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Cruise ships that anchored in Monterey Bay:

2013 3 days

2014 7 days

2015 6 days

2016 2 days

2017 13 days

* 2018 is scheduled for 10 days