Take Action: Nominate a New Marine Sanctuary

Here’s your chance to get involved: In early June, the White House invited Americans to nominate areas in the United States’ oceans and Great Lakes for possible designation as national marine sanctuaries. John Podesta, President Barack Obama's counselor on climate change and environmental affairs, made the announcement during Capitol Hill Ocean Week.

Prompted by 18,000 citizen comments in favor of the policy change, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is gauging local interest in potential locations for new marine sanctuaries through an open nomination process with specific guidelines.

Each nomination must confirm that the proposed marine area has publicly derived benefits, economic uses, cultural value or ecological qualities of special significance. Additional consideration will be given to the existing management authorities and possible partnership opportunities, as well as the research potential, conservation and education opportunities and the likelihood of adverse impacts on the area from current or future uses. There is no limitation on who can nominate an area for a marine park, but the proposal must demonstrate broad, community-based support.

There’s no application deadline, so the new policy will not result in the automatic designation of new national marine parks. Rather, NOAA will review nominations and add them to an inventory of areas to consider for future national marine parks.

“This new process increases the public’s involvement in the stewardship of our oceans, which is central to NOAA’s overall mission,” said Kathryn D. Sullivan, NOAA administrator and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. “We look forward to hearing from the public about places in the marine and Great Lakes environment they feel deserve special status and protection as national marine sanctuaries.”