Marine National Monuments and Sanctuaries: Reminders of Our Shared Past and Connected Future

The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument would stretch from Manhattan to Omaha if laid out across the continental United States. Yet, you may never have heard of this diverse oceanic site in the Northwest Hawai’ian Islands, which encompasses more than 500,000 acres of pristine coral atolls, seamounts, prime seabird nesting habitat and sites sacred to native Hawai’ians. Conversely, on the other side the Pacific, and much more accessible to most of us, every year the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary hosts thousands of visitors, people coming to dive, fish, surf or just to poke through the region’s tidepools. 

The United States boasts five marine national monuments and 18 national marine sanctuaries, together hosting over 42 million visitors a year and safeguarding valuable historic and natural treasures. From remnants of more than 100 World War I wooden steamships at Maryland’s Mallows Bay-Potomac River and the vibrant coral reefs of Flower Garden Banks off the coast of Texas and Louisiana, to the deepest spot on earth at the Marianas Trench National Monument, these places serve many purposes -- from protecting seabird habitat and forage fish to honoring cultural heritage and supporting local coastal economies.  

Congress or the president can designate marine and land-based national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906, which authorizes protection for areas with significant natural, cultural, historical, or scientific features. National marine sanctuaries are designated through a longer public legislative process. Once designated, these waters remain public lands and are managed jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, who are responsible for protecting the resources that make these places nationally significant while balancing public access, recreation, scientific research, and, where appropriate, traditional uses such as diving and fishing. 

A Vital Lifeline for Seabirds 

By preserving some of the country's most spectacular ocean ecosystems, our marine sanctuaries and monuments provide safe havens for seabirds, coastal wildlife, and fish alike. With seabird populations declining and coastal habitats continuing to disappear, protecting marine national monuments is more important than ever. 

Seabirds depend on healthy oceans and plenty of fish to survive. They need places to nest, feed, raise their young, and rest during migration. Marine protected areas safeguard many of these critical habitats, protecting coastlines, islands, coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds that seabirds and juvenile fish rely on throughout their life cycles. For migratory species that travel thousands of miles each year, every protected stopover can mean the difference between survival and decline. 

The urgency of protecting these ocean areas is clear. A landmark study published by the University of British Columbia found that the global seabird population fell by 70 percent from 1950 —representing a staggering loss of over 230 million seabirds. Arctic and cold-climate birds such as the Arctic Tern and Arctic Skua have experienced some of the steepest losses, while other species such as petrels, penguins, and albatrosses continue to decline. Climate change, bycatch, and overfishing remain some of the greatest threats to our seabirds. But by conserving key migration habitat through national marine sanctuaries, we can help address this biodiversity crisis by protecting the places birds need most. 

Healthy Birds Equal a Healthy Environment 

Marine national monuments and national marine sanctuaries play a critical role in addressing biodiversity loss and climate change. Protected seascapes can store carbon, maintain fish nurseries, reduce overfishing, and give species more room to adapt as temperatures and weather patterns shift. Scientists have warned that approximately 30 percent of seabird species worldwide face the risk of extinction, largely because of climate change, invasive species, and fisheries bycatch. Conserving key areas of the ocean where seabirds nest and breed is one of the most effective strategies to slow these losses and build resilience for the future. 

Protecting seabirds also benefits people. National marine sanctuaries are strong economic drivers, drawing visitors from around the world while supporting sustainable businesses in nearby communities.  According to NOAA and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, America’s marine economy supported 2.6 million jobs across the country and in 2023 contributed $511 billion. And many national marine sanctuaries are managed in coordination with tribes and Indigenous people, who provide in-depth knowledge on the history and sacred ancestry of our oceans and coasts. The ocean connects all Americans, and conservation is most effective when these shared ties are highlighted in the management, planning, and respect we give to our national waters.