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1. Home
2. About
3. NOS Fiscal Year 2021: Year in Review
4. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

**Office of National Marine Sanctuaries** NOS Fiscal Year 2021 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.*  NOAA Designates Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** STEWARDSHIP, RECREATION, AND TOURISM NOAA designated a 2,491-square-kilometer (962-square-mile) area of Lake Michigan as Wisconsin  Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary in August 2021 with widespread support from a diverse  coalition of organizations and individuals at local, state, regional, and  national levels. The sanctuary will protect and celebrate the region’s maritime  cultural heritage while creating unique research, educational, recreational,  and tourism opportunities. The collection of shipwrecks within Wisconsin  Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary is considered a national treasure  because of the excellent preservation and archaeological condition of the  shipwrecks, their diverse roles in the development of the Midwest and the rest  of the nation, and their location on a historically significant transportation  corridor. An estimated 60 ships may yet lay undiscovered within the boundaries  of the new sanctuary, in addition to the 36 known shipwreck sites.  Officials behind a podium at the designation of Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary.*NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad is joined by Senator Tammy Baldwin, Governor of Wisconsin Tony Evers, and local elected officials during a media event to celebrate the designation of Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary.*  Draft Plan Released for Proposed Lake Ontario Sanctuary **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** STEWARDSHIP, RECREATION, AND TOURISM NOAA  released for public comment a draft plan for a national marine sanctuary in  eastern Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River  in New York. In partnership with the state of New York, the proposed  Lane Ontario National Marine Sanctuary would  manage a significant collection of maritime heritage resources and provide a  national stage for promoting heritage tourism and recreation. Within the  proposed boundaries are 64 known shipwrecks and aircraft from events spanning  more than 200 years of the nation's history. This proposed sanctuary would  offer opportunities to collaborate with Indigenous nations and tribes and  provide a diversity of perspectives for appreciating North America’s earliest  cultures through education and outreach efforts.  Waves crash toward a lighthouse with clouds in the background.*Tibbetts Point Lighthouse sits where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River, adjacent to the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary.*  Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Triples in Size **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:**  STEWARDSHIP, RECREATION, AND TOURISM Building on more than three decades of scientific  exploration, public input, and coordination with the sanctuary advisory  council, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was expanded from  56  to 160 square miles (145 to 414 square kilometers) in January 2021. The expansion adds 14  additional reefs and banks in the Gulf of Mexico that  provide important habitat for recreationally and commercially important fish,  such as red snapper, mackerel, grouper, and wahoo, as well as threatened or  endangered species of sea turtles, corals, and giant manta rays. The expansion  extends existing sanctuary protections to these new areas to limit impact of  activities such as fishing with bottom-tending gear, ship anchoring, oil and  gas exploration and production, and salvage activities on sensitive biological  resources.  A manta ray swims in the water. *A manta ray swims in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.*  NOAA Receives Two Reviews of Sanctuary System **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:**  STEWARDSHIP, RECREATION, AND TOURISM In  2021, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) completed their third review of the sanctuary system as part of preparations for the 50th anniversary of the  National Marine Sanctuaries Act in October 2022. NAPA’s key theme from the  report is: “The system must have a long-term goal to build itself into a more  balanced, focused, and better resourced actor that can take a leading role in  NOAA and across the U.S. government in protecting the marine environment.” In  support of that overarching goal, the report offers 15 short-, medium-, and  long-range recommendations to the sanctuary system and NOAA across six functional  areas of the program: strategy, finance, management/operations, organization,  communication/outreach/marketing, and community engagement. Concurrently, the  National Marine Sanctuary Foundation convened three expert roundtable discussions on the  future of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The focal areas were research;  conservation and management; and outreach and engagement. The report provided a  set of recommendations to both the Foundation and ONMS to guide sanctuaries  into the future.  A diver swims near a shipwreck and fish.*A scientific diver in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Sanctuary scientists work with partners to conduct and share management-driven research in and around national marine sanctuaries.*  Sanctuaries Video Series Wins  Digital Communications Awards **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** STEWARDSHIP, RECREATION, AND TOURISM The Sanctuaries  360°: Explore the Blue video series won  a People’s Voice Webby Award in the “Virtual and Remote - Science & Education”  category. The Webby Awards are presented by the International  Academy of the Digital Arts and Sciences and is the  leading international award honoring excellence on the internet. Additionally, the National Marine  Sanctuaries 360°: Explore the Blue virtual reality series and Stories from the Blue video series won Awards of Excellence for the 2021 Communicator Awards in the  “Online Video” category. The Communicator Awards  honor excellence in strategic, effective, and meaningful communication across  digital, video, podcasts, marketing, mobile, print, and other platforms. The Sanctuaries 360°: Explore the Blue series was launched  in 2020 to bring a collection of virtual underwater experiences to people  throughout the world. These videos and lesson plans proved to be extremely  popular  and gave homebound students, teachers, and those  seeking an escape a virtual outlet to experience our national marine  sanctuaries. The Stories from the Blue series,  part of the Earth is Blue campaign, celebrates the people at the center of  national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments.  Graphic showing turtles and images of awards.*ONMS celebrates two awards recognizing excellence in digital media.*  Sanctuaries Promote Responsible Wildlife Viewing **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY:** STEWARDSHIP, RECREATION, AND TOURISM ONMS released new Wildlife  Viewing Guidelines in English and Spanish. These simple  guidelines for shore and water-based activities were designed in coordination  with NOAA Fisheries, the Respect Wildlife campaign, the Recreate Responsibly  coalition, and multiple state and federal wildlife agencies. The goal of the  guidelines is to engage and educate the public on how to have an enjoyable  adventure while reducing the chance of human/wildlife conflicts. Compatible use  of national marine sanctuaries, such as responsible recreation, can be a  critical tool to create awareness and promote stewardship of sanctuary  resources. The public is encouraged to show their support for wildlife and  inspire others to do the same by taking the Wildlife Pledge.  Vector graphic showing binoculars.*ONMS encourages the public to show their support for wildlife on social media by taking the pledge.*
 ONMS **Highlights** NOAA Designates Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Draft Plan Released for Proposed Lake Ontario Sanctuary Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Triples in Size NOAA Receives Two Reviews of Sanctuary System Sanctuaries Video Series Wins Digital Communications Awards Sanctuaries Promote Responsible Wildlife Viewing
  NOS **Accomplishments** NOS by the Numbers 2021  Browse by Hurricane: General Hurricane Accomplishments Hurricane Ida  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:** 01/10/22 **Author:** NOAA How to cite this article Contact Us


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