Grassroots support is vital to the success of marine sanctuaries.
Marine sanctuaries protect our nation's most important marine ecosystems.
Without grassroots support and continued public involvement, they would not exist. Since 1972, citizens have fought for 14 national marine sanctuaries in areas such as Massachusetts, Florida, California, and Washington. Once designated, sanctuaries belong to all of us, and come with a responsibility to preserve these special places for our children, and their children. Marine sanctuaries strive to protect entire ecosystems by balancing resource protection with commercial, recreational, cultural, scientific, and educational uses. Our challenge is to balance these and other important uses with long-term protection of the marine environment.