remiconnesson/oceanservice-noaa-facts huggingface dataset:
# How does a sanctuary protect marine life?

## Sanctuary managers use a combination of science, education, and enforcement to protect marine life

![NMS protects marine life](nmsprotect.jpg "NMS protects marine life")

Our national marine sanctuaries use a variety of mechanisms to understand and protect marine resources.

National marine sanctuary staff conduct research and use that science to better understand the marine environment at all sanctuary sites. This knowledge is necessary to establish an effective strategy for protection.

Public education and appreciation for marine resources is needed for protection. Education programs exist at all sanctuary sites. An educated public understands how to interact in the environment to avoid damaging marine resources and will help to promote the main conservation messages.

The sanctuaries also implement a permit system to regulate and oversee potentially harmful activities in sanctuaries. This framework may be enhanced by the adoption of state and other federal laws and regulations.

Another important tool is “interpretive enforcement,” emphasizing education about responsible behavior as a proactive method to prevent harmful resource impacts from occurring in the first place.

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act, along with site-specific legislation and regulations, provides the legal framework outlining the activities that are allowed or prohibited.
# What threats do coastal communities face?

## The threats to coastal communities include extreme natural events such as hurricanes, coastal storms, tsunamis, and landslides, as well as longer-term risks of coastal erosion and sea level rise.

![Coastal flooding](/facts/coastalthreat1.jpg "Coastal flooding")

Floods are the most frequent natural disaster; one in three Federal disaster declarations is related to flooding.

Losses from catastrophic events such as hurricanes can be extensive. The economic losses from the 2005 hurricane season, which included Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, were $200 billion, the costliest season ever.

For some threats, such as sea level rise, only the projected economic losses are indicated. For example, the vast majority of our nation’s commercial and recreational fisheries are dependent on coastal marshes. Approximately two-thirds of those fisheries spend some stage of their lives in tidal marshes. As sea levels rise, the built-up areas behind these marshes will provide no opportunities for wetlands to migrate. The net result will be billions of dollars in economic impacts affecting the livelihoods and sustainability of many coastal communities.

Coastal threats are different throughout the United States. For example, in the Pacific Islands, there are more potentially catastrophic coastal hazards such as tsunamis, flooding, and even droughts. In the North Atlantic, there are more severe storms, population and development pressures, and regional-scale impacts such as climate change.

It is critical to develop hazard-resilient communities to prepare for these threats and enhance the ability of these communities to absorb impacts and bounce back. This preparation will reduce the lives lost in disasters, secure the economic stability of these communities, and support the health of our coastal ecosystems, including wetlands which are essential for reducing storm impacts on our coastal communities.
# What is an environmental sensitivity index map?

![esi map](/facts/esi-map-long-island960.jpg "The symbols on an ESI map are color coded and prioritized  for clean up by how sensitive they are to oil.")

_The symbols on an ESI map are color coded and prioritized for clean up by how sensitive they are to oil._

Environmental sensitivity index (ESI) maps are a compilation of information about coastal shoreline sensitivity, biological resources, and human resources. This information is used in planning to create cleanup strategies _before_ an accident occurs so that authorities are prepared to take action in the event of such a spill. Advance planning reduces the harmful consequences of oil spills and cleanup.

ESI maps have many features that make them great tools for spill response teams. The maps are created using geographic information system (GIS) techniques in order to present regional maps with data on biological and human resources in an area, as well as information on sensitive shorelines. The shoreline resources are ranked and color-coded based on their sensitivity to oiling. The data on biological and human resources also use standardized colors and symbols. Organizations can use the synthesized data to create efficient and effective cleanup strategies. In addition to the maps, the ESI data are available in several digital formats for use within a GIS.

Researchers in the Office of Response and Restoration work with state, federal, and industrial agencies to create ESI maps.
# What is resilience?

_Resilience is important everywhere because all communities face hazard threats such as droughts and flooding. Coastal areas have additional hazard risk from storms such as hurricanes and increased population pressures, making resilience particularly important in those locations._    ([Video Transcript](#transcript))

A community that is more informed and prepared will have a greater opportunity to rebound quickly from weather and climate-related events, including adapting to sea level rise. The ability to rebound more quickly can reduce negative human health, environmental, and economic impacts.

The ability of a community to successfully recover is linked to the strengths and capacities of individuals, families, businesses, schools, hospitals, and other parts of the community. Also, there are more people moving into high-risk areas such as the coast. With these population increases, homes, businesses, and infrastructure are also at great risk of damage from hazards. 

Because all communities are going to face hazards, resilience is important. Resilience is our ability to prevent a short-term hazard event from turning into a long-term community-wide disaster. While most communities effectively prepare themselves to respond to emergency situations, many are not adequately prepared to recover in the aftermath.

### Video Transcript

Communities across the country are increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and long-term change to the atmosphere and ocean. Our ability to withstand and recover is called resilience. The true test of resilience is how well we can bounce back. Resilience is societal, economic, and ecological. Understanding risk and preparing today can help protect the things we care about. Communities can mitigate flooding through natural shorelines and we can work to understand how chemical and biological changes to our ocean impact marine life and habitat. We cannot overrule Mother Nature, but there are actions that we can take together to build resilient communities and support a healthy ocean, sustainable fisheries, and thriving communities and economies. NOAA provides businesses, resource managers, decision makers, community planners, and individuals the tools and environmental intelligence to build resilience, adapt, and thrive.
# What was the first national marine sanctuary to be designated?

## The USS _Monitor_ was designated our first National Marine Sanctuary on January 30, 1975

![USS Monitor](firstnms.jpg "USS Monitor")

The USS _Monitor_ was the prototype for a class of U.S. Civil War ironclad, turreted warships that significantly altered both naval technology and marine architecture in the nineteenth century. The vessel was constructed in 110 days.

The USS _Monitor_ was the first of the marine protected areas that make up the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary boundaries protect the wreck of the USS _Monitor_, which lies southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Since its sinking in 1862, the _Monitor_ has become a productive artificial reef.

While most of the research conducted in the _Monitor_ sanctuary has focused on the archaeological documentation of the shipwreck, NOAA scientists are now interested in studying the water quality and marine environment of the wreck site. A NOAA data buoy installed in the sanctuary in 2006 is providing scientists and the public the opportunity to monitor weather and sea conditions 24 hours a day.

Management of the sanctuary is focused on preventing further deterioration of the wreck, recovery of important ship components and artifacts, and protecting the wreck from damage by human activities such as vessel anchoring and fishing. Access is generally limited to scientific research conducted under a permit issued by NOAA; however, special-use permits are issued for non-research visits to this historic vessel.
# What is a national marine sanctuary?

## National marine sanctuaries are **protected waters** that include habitats such as rocky reefs, kelp forests, deep-sea canyons, and underwater archaeological sites.

![Humpback whales feeding in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary](/facts/nms1.jpg)

_Humpback whales feeding in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, located off the northern and central California coast._

Within their protected waters, giant humpback whales breed and calve their young, temperate reefs flourish, and shipwrecks tell stories of our maritime history. Similar to national parks on the land, these underwater preserves provide a safe habitat for species close to extinction or protect historically significant shipwrecks.

Each sanctuary site is a unique place needing special protections. Marine sanctuaries are natural classrooms, cherished recreational spots, and valuable commercial industries. They form part of a larger network called the National Marine Sanctuary System, which consists of protected areas that encompass marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington State to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa.
# What is coastal zone management?

## Coastal zone management involves managing coastal areas to balance environmental, economic, human health, and human activities.

![San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve](/facts/czm.jpg "San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve")

At the core of the Coastal Zone Management Act are two programs: the National Coastal Zone Management Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). The NERRS is a network of 29 protected areas, including the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, established for long-term research, education and coastal stewardship.

The concept of coastal zone management is a relatively new one, emerging less than four decades ago from the need to tackle an array of interconnected problems associated with population growth and development along our nation’s coasts.

The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) was passed in 1972 and provided a formal structure to address the challenges of continued growth in coastal areas. Administered by NOAA, the CZMA recognizes that ensuring access to clean water and healthy ecosystems that support a vibrant coastal economy requires effectively integrating science, technology, and public policy. The goals of the CZMA are to “preserve, protect, develop, enhance, and restore where possible, the coastal resources.”

One program under the CZMA, the National Coastal Zone Management Program, encourages coastal states and territories to work in partnership with the federal government to design and enforce local programs consistent with the CZMA and accompanying regulations. Today, 34 of the 35 eligible coastal and Great Lakes states and territories have entered into the voluntary partnership.

As a result of the Coastal Zone Management Act and the success of its programs, coastal communities are equipped to better address continued economic development of the coastal zone while accounting for natural resource management. This will ensure the health and stability of the coast, both environmentally and economically, into the long-term future.
# What is a catcher beach?

##### **Did you know?**

_Our oceans are filled with items that do not belong there. Huge amounts of consumer plastics, metals, rubber, paper, textiles, derelict fishing gear, vessels, and other lost or discarded items enter the marine environment every day, making marine debris one of the most widespread pollution problems facing the world's ocean and waterways._

##### More **Information**

##### [Get **Social**](/socialmedia.html)

Did you know? - *Our oceans are filled with items that do not belong there. Huge amounts of consumer plastics, metals, rubber, paper, textiles, derelict fishing gear, vessels, and other lost or discarded items enter the marine environment every day, making marine debris one of the most widespread pollution problems facing the world's ocean and waterways.*

- [NOAA Marine Debris Program](https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/)

- [Ten Things You Should Know About Marine Debris](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/marinedebris/)

- [Alaska Marine Debris (audio podcast)](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast/jan16/mw133-alaska-marine-debris.html)

- [Ocean Today video: Trash Talk](http://oceantoday.noaa.gov/trashtalk_specialfeature/)

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# What percentage of the American population lives near the coast?

![photo of a crowded shoreline](/facts/population.jpg)

_Though home to almost 40% of the U.S. population, coastal areas account for less than 10% of the total land in the contiguous United States._

In the U.S., 127 million people live in coastal counties. That’s as much as the entire population of Japan. If they were their own nation, the coastal counties of the U.S. would rank third in the world in gross domestic product, beaten only by China and the U.S. as a whole. The outsize [U.S. marine economy](https://www.noaa.gov/stories/story-map-our-dynamic-marine-economy) is fueled by tourism and recreation, offshore energy, shipbuilding, and aquaculture, to name just a few.

Though home to almost 40% of the U.S. population, coastal areas account for [less than 10% of the total land in the contiguous United States](/facts/coastal-population-report.pdf). Coastal areas are also far more crowded than the U.S. as a whole; population density is over five times greater in coastal shoreline counties than the U.S. average. This means that issues that affect the coasts affect a large proportion of Americans.  

Coastal communities also face different issues than inland communities. These include increased risks from high-tide flooding, hurricanes, sea level rise, erosion, and climate change. State and local governments work with NOAA’s [Office for Coastal Management](https://coast.noaa.gov/) to effectively [manage coastal areas](https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/) with the goals of providing public access for recreation, maintaining water quality, protecting the coastal population, preserving important habitats, and encouraging economic development.

Did you know? - *NOS’s Office for Coastal Management provides coastal data for the general public, coastal managers, and state and federal partners. Their [Fast Facts](https://coast.noaa.gov/#fast-facts) pages give snapshots of U.S. data on everything from [demographics](https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/economics-and-demographics.html), to the [cost of hurricanes](https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/hurricane-costs.html), to the issue of [marine debris](https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/marine-debris.html).*

- [Fast Facts: Economics and Demographics](https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/economics-and-demographics.html)

- [National Coastal Population Report: Population Trends from 1970 to 2020](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/coastal-population-report.pdf)

- [Our Dynamic Marine Economy](https://www.noaa.gov/stories/story-map-our-dynamic-marine-economy)

- [The National Coastal Zone Management Program](https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/)

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# What is the biggest source of pollution in the ocean?

![agricultural runoff](/facts/pollution.jpg "Runoff from agricultural land flows to the sea, carrying pesticides and fertilizer")

_When large tracts of land are plowed, the exposed soil can erode during rainstorms. Much of this runoff flows to the sea, carrying with it agricultural fertilizers and pesticides._

Eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land. One of the biggest sources is called nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff. Nonpoint source pollution includes many small sources, like septic tanks, cars, trucks, and boats, plus larger sources, such as farms, ranches, and forest areas. Millions of motor vehicle engines drop small amounts of oil each day onto roads and parking lots. Much of this, too, makes its way to the sea.

Some water pollution actually starts as air pollution, which settles into waterways and oceans. Dirt can be a pollutant. Top soil or silt from fields or construction sites can run off into waterways, harming fish and wildlife habitats.

Nonpoint source pollution can make river and ocean water unsafe for humans and wildlife. In some areas, this pollution is so bad that it causes beaches to be closed after rainstorms.

More than one-third of the shellfish-growing waters of the United States are adversely affected by coastal pollution.

Correcting the harmful effects of nonpoint source pollution is costly. Each year, millions of dollars are spent to restore and protect areas damaged or endangered by nonpoint source pollutants. NOAA works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, and other federal and state agencies to develop ways to control nonpoint source pollution. These agencies work together to monitor, assess, and limit nonpoint source pollution that may result naturally and by human actions.

NOAA's [Coastal Zone Management Program](https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/) is helping to create special nonpoint source pollution control plans for each coastal state participating in the program. When nonpoint source pollution does cause problems, NOAA scientists help track down the exact causes and find solutions.
# How important is the ocean to our economy?

## The ocean is the **trading route for the planet**.

![Port of Seattle](/facts/containership.jpg)

_In 2017, the U.S. maritime transportation system carried $1.6 trillion of cargo through U.S. seaports to and from our international trading partners._

The U.S. economy is very dependent on healthy coastal and ocean resources. Consider the following facts:

-   **Fourteen percent** of U.S. counties that are adjacent to the coast produce **45 percent** of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), with over **three million jobs** (one in 45) directly dependent on the resources of the oceans and Great Lakes.
-   In 2017, the ocean economy, which includes six economic sectors that depend on the ocean and Great Lakes, contributed **$307 billion** to the U.S. GDP and supported **3.3 million jobs**.
-   Tourism and recreation account for **73 percent** of the ocean economy's total employment and **42 percent** of its GDP. Offshore mineral extraction accounts for another **25 percent** of the ocean economy's GDP.
# How does backscatter help us understand the sea floor?

VIDEO: How does backscatter help us understand the sea floor? Here's an overview in under two minutes. [Transcript](#transcript)

Backscatter is the reflection of a signal (such as sound waves or light) back in the direction from where it originated. Backscatter is commonly used in medical ultrasounds to understand characteristics of the human body, but in the world of [hydrography](/facts/hydrography.html) and marine science, backscatter from soundwaves helps us understand characteristics of the sea floor.

![backscatter image](/facts/backscatter2.jpg "A backscatter mosaic, which records the strength of the sonar return from the ocean floor, is displayed with the chart in the background.")

##### **Blue Carbon**

_A backscatter mosaic, which records the strength of the sonar return from the ocean floor, is overlaid on a nautical chart._

NOAA ships equipped with [multibeam echo sounders](https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/learn/hydrographic-survey-equipment.html) use beams of sound to map the ocean floor. These sonar systems collect two types of 3D data: sea floor depth and backscatter. The sea floor depth, or bathymetry, is computed by measuring the time it takes for the sound to leave the sonar, hit the sea floor, and return to the sonar. Backscatter is computed by measuring the amount of sound that is reflected by the sea floor and received by the sonar.

Different bottom types “scatter” sound energy differently, telling scientists about their relative hardness and roughness. Harder bottom types (like rock) reflect more sound than softer bottom types (like mud), and smoother bottom types (like pavement) reflect more sound than bumpier bottom types (like coral reef).

Combining bathymetry and backscatter data collected by multibeam echo sounders allows scientists to create very detailed 3D maps of the sea floor and the habitats present there. The information is used for multiple purposes, including marine ecosystem protection, coastal hazard preparedness, and navigation safety.

### Video Transcript

Backscatter—measure of sound that is reflected by the sea floor and received by the sonar. A stronger return signal indicates a hard bottom such as coral or rocks. A weaker return signal indicates a soft bottom such as mud. Scientists use this information to create detailed 3D maps of the sea floor and the habitats present on the bottom of the ocean with the goal of improving navigation safety and marine ecosystem protection.

Did you know? - *A 3D map of the ocean floor can tell scientists and resource managers important details, such as the distribution and health of a coral reef ecosystem or which areas certain species of fish prefer for spawning. This helps us better conserve and protect our ocean and all the creatures that live there.*

- [Office of Coast Survey](https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/)

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# What is smart growth?

## Communities use smart growth to ensure economic growth without sacrificing the safety of the environment.

![Portland, Oregon](/facts/smart-growth.jpg "Portland, Oregon")

Portland, Oregon, located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, connects city growthand the health of its rivers. In addition to efforts to build compactly within existing neighborhoods, Portland has created green infrastructure policies that support compact design. Its comprehensive Metropolitan Greenspaces Program acquires natural areas and trails to give people places for recreation while protecting the city's water quality, floodplains, and fish and wildlife habitat.

Smart growth is a way of approaching community development and expansion with the goal of making them “more livable, more economically efficient, and more effective at meeting the needs of the people who live there.”

Smart growth encourages building communities that are easily walkable while also providing a range of other transportation options. Houses are built to be attractive and affordable using compact, energy efficient designs. These tenets, as well as an overall goal of environmental respect and preservation guide smart growth community building.