In the 1960's, when astronauts launched toward the moon, they made an unexpected discovery:
Earth… is blue.
We saw for the first time, how vast our ocean, how fragile our planet, and how small and connected we appeared against the speckled blackness of space.
Since then, our understanding of the ocean has grown immensely. And the more we learn, the more we realize the ocean is our life support.
And now it is in distress.
Increasing demands of a growing human population are stretching the very fabric of Nature…
Pollution, overuse, and climate change threaten to undermine ocean health around the world.
It became clear by the 1970's that we needed to do something to save our planet, and the quality of life we had taken for granted.
Not long after we first looked back at our planet from space, Congress passed the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, creating a nationwide system of underwater parks, with the goal of preserving our natural and cultural treasures, empowering communities to be part of the process.
From the depths of the Great Lakes, to the sunlit shoals of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, today 14 sites serve as living laboratories and classrooms for ocean understanding and stewardship.
These remarkable havens have become global models for how communities are balancing protection with recreation and commercial activities.
We've made progress. And by changing how we interact with the ocean, we are investing in our own future.
Our fates are the same.
However, there is more to do.
In 2014, NOAA opened the door for new national marine sanctuaries, inviting communities around the country to nominate their most treasured places in marine and Great Lakes waters.
These are your national marine sanctuaries.
Together, we are making a difference…
…for ourselves, future generations, and that bright, blue planet we call home.
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