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1. Home
2. About
3. NOS Fiscal Year 2022: Year in Review
4. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

**Office of National Marine Sanctuaries** NOS Fiscal Year 2022 Year in Review *NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) serves as the trustee for a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 1.55 million square kilometers (600,000 square miles) of marine and Great Lakes waters. The network includes a system of 14 national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea and Rose Atoll marine national monuments.*  Sanctuary Designation in Process for Three New Sites **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** CONSERVE, RESTORE, AND CONNECT Over the last year, NOAA initiated the process  to potentially designate three new national marine sanctuaries:  Papahānaumokuākea, Chumash Heritage, and Hudson Canyon. In 2020, Congress  directed NOAA to begin sanctuary designation for marine portions of  Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The designation would add the  conservation benefits of a national marine sanctuary by providing a stable  framework and additional protections that safeguard resources. The designation  processes for Chumash Heritage and Hudson  Canyon began after robust community engagement, after both sites  were submitted to NOAA under the Sanctuary Nomination Process. Initiating  designation of these new sanctuary sites is part of the America the Beautiful  initiative to address nature loss, climate change, and inequitable access to  the outdoors, including by better engaging tribal communities.  A map with each of the sanctuaries and monuments identified.*The National Marine Sanctuary System includes 15 sanctuaries and two marine national monuments. This map includes the four sites that are currently proposed as new sanctuaries: Hudson Canyon, Lake Ontario, Chumash Heritage, and Papahānaumokuākea.*  Celebrating 50 Years of Ocean and Coastal Conservation **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** CONSERVE, RESTORE, AND CONNECT Logo for the 50th anniversary campaign.*50 years ago, Congress passed banner legislation designed to protect our nation's ocean and coasts. The legislation shaped our past 50 years and will continue to shape the future.*
 Four key pieces of environmental legislation  pertaining to our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes shared a 50th anniversary in  2022: the Coastal Zone Management, National Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Mammal  Protection, and Clean Water acts. To celebrate these anniversaries, NOAA, the  Marine Mammal Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched the 50 Years of Ocean and Coastal Conservation campaign.  This yearlong outreach effort shared the legacy of 50 years of stewardship and  revitalizes the nation's commitment to marine and coastal conservation.  National Marine Sanctuaries Stamp Series Released **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** CONSERVE, RESTORE, AND CONNECT To celebrate 50 years of ocean and coastal  conservation, the U.S. Postal Service and ONMS teamed up to showcase our  nation’s underwater treasures with 16 new Forever® stamps. The  stamps feature scenes that showcase the diverse and abundant wildlife and  ecosystems that can be found throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System.  These stunning images were taken by NOAA staff and others from around the  nation to share the beauty of these special places. The stamp booklet also  features a map of the National Marine Sanctuary System on the back. From  towering kelp forests off the Pacific coast and dazzling coral displays in  American Samoa to the famed shipwrecks beneath the waters of the Great Lakes,  national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments have protected areas  with special ecological, cultural, and historical significance for five  decades.  Images from the 16 Forever stamps. *The National Marine Sanctuaries Forever® stamps are available through the U.S. Postal Service’s online postal store or at post office locations nationwide.*  Livestream the Valor in the Atlantic Expedition **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** CONSERVE, RESTORE, AND CONNECT | DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, JUSTICE, AND ACCESSIBILITY ONMS, with support from the National Centers  of Coastal Ocean Science and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, live  streamed an in-depth, multidisciplinary survey of the iconic *USS Monitor* in celebration of the 50th  anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Valor in the Atlantic expedition utilized  the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration’s remotely operated vehicles and  satellite capability from NOAA Ship *Nancy  Foster* to explore the *USS Monitor*,  as well as natural reefs and the maritime cultural landscape surrounding Monitor National  Marine Sanctuary off the North Carolina coast. By making the mission  accessible to anyone with an internet connection, NOAA was able to use  innovative technology and unique partnerships to increase access to special  places in remote areas.  Three sharks swim near part of a shipwreck.*Sand tiger sharks inspect the bow of the USS Monitor during the Valor in the Atlantic Expedition with Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and the Global Foundation For Ocean Exploration. Credit: Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration/NOAA*  Florida Keys Sanctuary Releases Restoration Blueprint **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** CONSERVE, RESTORE, AND CONNECT Utilizing lessons  learned from more than 40 years of science, management, and community engagement, NOAA’s  Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary released a Restoration  Blueprint, proposing updates to the boundary, marine zones,  regulations, and management activities within the sanctuary. This is the first  comprehensive review and update of the sanctuary’s boundary, regulations, and  marine zones since 1997. The sanctuary protects the only barrier coral reef in  the continental United States, the largest documented contiguous seagrass  community in the Northern Hemisphere, and maritime heritage resources that  encompass a broad historical period. The Restoration Blueprint proposes to  enhance locally led conservation in the Florida Keys as part of a national  network of protected areas.  View of colorful corals and fish in the Florida Keys.*Home to giant barrel sponges and largely undisturbed plate corals, Pulley Ridge is an important source of connectivity among populations of invertebrate and fish species across the Florida Keys ecosystem. This area is part of the proposed expansion of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.*
 ONMS **Highlights** Sanctuary Designation in Process for Three New Sites Celebrating 50 Years of Ocean and Coastal Conservation National Marine Sanctuaries Stamp Series Released Livestream the Valor in the Atlantic Expedition Florida Keys Sanctuary Releases Restoration Blueprint
  NOS **Accomplishments** NOS by the Numbers 2022  Browse by Office: Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services Coral Reef Conservation Program U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science National Geodetic Survey NOS Management and Budget NOS Information Management Office for Coastal Management Office of Coast Survey Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Office of Response and Restoration   **Search** Our facts    Get **Social** Social
  **Last updated:** 01/20/23 **Author:** NOAA How to cite this article Contact Us


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