SAN FRANCISCO -- For the first time in 14 years, the Monterey Bay National Marine sanctuary is looking to change the way it protects the coastline, NBC 11 reported.
The guidelines for protecting the Monterey Bay National Marine sanctuary are under review and could mean no more personal watercraft (PWC) and no more tow-in surfing.
Starting Wednesday the sanctuary will hold public meetings from Marin down to Cambria and they may find their most vocal opponents are the people who spend the most time in the water, like Jeff Clark.

Clark is one of the organizers of the Maverick's surf contest. He said they only use PWCs about 20 times a year, and even then, there are no more than 10 in the water.
"The only thing we take away from the ocean is the memories and the pictures," Clark said. "This is our living room, you don't let just anything come into your living room. You want to make sure it's a safe clean environment."

However, environmentalists said the personal watercraft endanger marine life and disrupts the ecosystem.
At the Pillar Point Harbormaster's office, they're afraid people could die if the PWCs are banned. They use their PWC in nearly 40 percent of their rescues.
"If we were to have our personal watercraft taken away from us, it would not only put us in jeopardy, it would endanger the lives of many people along the coast," Pillar Point's Cary Smith said.
Other sanctuary changes address the management of cruise ship waste, protecting species like the white shark and different fishing methods. The management's plans have been in the works since 2001.

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