History of the National Marine Sanctuaries

National Marine Sanctuary History Timeline

1966

Congress establishes a Marine Sciences Council led by Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

1969

The Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources (“The Stratton Commission”) releases a report on the marine environment, entitled Our Nation and the Sea: A Plan for National Action. Chaired by Julius A. Stratton, chairman of the Ford Foundation, the 15-member commission consulted with 600 individuals in government, academic institutions and industry within a 30 month period, in addition to hearing formal testimony from 126 witnesses before issuing its report. Our Nation and the Sea emphasizes three issues: (1) the ocean as a frontier for resource development, (2) emerging threats to the coastal environment, and (3) the need to reorganize federal ocean and coastal programs. It leads directly to a reorganization of federal ocean efforts and the creation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the next year.

1970

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was established and placed within the Department of Commerce.

National Environmental Policy Act establishes the federal Council on Environmental Quality and mandates a process for federal agencies to fully assess and evaluate the impacts of their actions on the environment and disclose those impacts to the public.

President Richard Nixon directs the Council on Environmental Quality to conduct a study of ocean disposal of wastes. In October, the Council publishes its report, entitled “Ocean Dumping -- A National Policy.”

1972

October 23 –Congress passes the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act which, among other things, establishes the National Marine Sanctuary Program. Title III of the law is later renamed the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Click here for more information about the NMSA.

Congress passes the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Coastal Zone Management Act.

Congress overrides President Nixon's veto and passes the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, substantially rewriting and strengthening federal water pollution control.

1973

Scientists from Duke University, the State of North Carolina, and the Massachusetts Institute Technology discover the wreckage of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor off the coast of North Carolina.

Congress passes the Endangered Species Act.

1974

USS Monitor is nominated for national marine sanctuary status by Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr. of North Carolina.

1975

January 30 --President Gerald Ford approves the designation of the USS Monitor National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of North Carolina. It becomes the nation's first national marine sanctuary.

December 18 -- President Gerald Ford approves the designation of the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Florida, making it the second national marine sanctuary.

1977

California nominates and NOAA selects Channel Islands, Point Reyes-Farallon Islands, and Monterey Bay for further study as potential national marine sanctuaries.

President Jimmy Carter instructs the Secretary of Commerce to identify possible national marine sanctuaries in areas where development appears imminent. His Environmental Message to Congress carries a plea for special attention for marine sanctuaries.

November 4—Congress reauthorizes the NMSA (P.L. 95-153).

1978

Office of Ocean Management established in NOAA

1979

President Jimmy Carter requests that NOAA develop a List of Recommended Areas for marine sanctuaries designation. This process results in a pool of 67 potential sites from which future Active Candidates for sanctuary designation are to be chosen.

NOAA announces List of Recommended Areas for marine sanctuary designation and List of Active Candidates.

Flower Garden Banks, 100 miles off the Texas and Louisiana coast, in the Gulf of Mexico and Gray's Reef, Georgia made Active Candidates. St. Thomas, Virgin Islands studied as Active Candidate for sanctuary designation. Georges Bank, Massachusetts considered and denied as Active Candidate because it is determined that existing management programs were adequately protecting the area's resources.

Office of Ocean Management and Office of Coastal Zone Management combined to form Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. Sanctuary Program Office established with responsibility for national marine sanctuaries and coastal estuarine reserves.

NOAA removes Georges Bank, Massachusetts from List of Active Candidates.

1980

August 29 –Congress reauthorizes the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (P.L. 96-332). Among other things, the 1980 amendments give Congress authority to review a sanctuary designation before it becomes final.

September 22 – President Jimmy Carter approves the designation of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of California. It becomes the third national marine sanctuary in the system.

1981

January 16 – President Jimmy Carter approves the designation of the Point-Reyes Farallon Islands, Gray's Reef, and Looe Key national marine sanctuaries off the coasts of California, Georgia, and Florida, respectively. These designations bring the total number of national marine sanctuaries to six.

Puerto Rico nominates and NOAA chooses waters off La Parguera, Puerto Rico for study as an Active Candidate.

December 26—Congress reauthorizes the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (P.L. 97-109).

1982

Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management merged with the National Ocean Survey under the umbrella of the National Ocean Service.

Flower Garden Banks and St. Thomas withdrawn from consideration as Active Candidates. Fagatele Bay, American Samoa is considered for Active Candidacy. Hawaii Humpback Whale site in Maui, Hawaii is declared an Active Candidate for sanctuary designation.

1983

Cordell Bank is made an Active Candidate. Monterey Bay is removed as Active Candidate.

Termination of first Monterey Bay, California designation effort.

Termination of Virgin Islands designation efforts.

List of Recommended Areas is eliminated and replaced by site evaluation list of 29 sites.

1984

October 19 – Congress reauthorizes the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (P.L. 98-498). “Historical” and “cultural” qualities are included as those qualities that make an area of the marine environment nationally significant and thus worthy of protection. This enlarges the sanctuaries primary mission to preserve marine resources beyond the ecological, recreational, educational, research or aesthetic values. The amendments change the procedures by which sanctuaries are designated by: removing the explicit requirement for the President’s approval; requiring consideration of a site's educational, historical, and research values; requiring consultation with a list of entities including Fishery Management Councils; and requiring the preparation of certain environmental studies.

Intent is given to consider Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico as an Active Candidate. La Parguera, Puerto Rico is removed from Active Candidacy. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale site is suspended when Governor Ariyoshi withdraws all state waters from sanctuary consideration.

In November, the vessel Wellwood grounds in the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary and the vessel Puerto Rican sinks in Point-Reys Farallon Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

1985

Major portion of program funds spent responding to the Wellwood and Puerto Rican ship disasters in 1984.

Ten Fathom Ledge and Big Rock, North Carolina and Norfolk Canyon, Virginia studied for status as Active Candidates.

1986

April 29 – NOAA designates the Fagatale Bay National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of American Samoa. The seventh of the national marine sanctuaries, it is the first outside the mainland United States.

Norfolk Canyon, Virginia is made an Active Candidate.

USS Monitor named National Historic Landmark. It remains one of the only underwater site so designated.

Ten Fathom and Big Rock, North Carolina removed from Active Candidacy.

1987

The Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia, selected as principle museum for curator of USS Monitor artifacts and papers.

1988

November 7-- The National Marine Sanctuaries Act is reauthorized (P.L. 100-627). The changes allow the sanctuaries program to issue special use permits, enter into cooperative agreements, and collect and use funds obtained from resource damage claims.

Monterey Bay, Olympic Coast, Northwest Straits, and Stellwagen Bank all named as Active Candidates. Santa Monica, California; Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef and American Shoal, Florida named as study areas.

1989

May 24 -- NOAA designates the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of California. It is the eighth national marine sanctuary in the system.

The vessels Elpis and Alex Owen Maitland ground in the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. Sanctuary biologists learn that only a few of the reef-dwelling animals have survived.

August 9—Congress prohibits exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals in the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (P.L. 101-74).

1990

November 16 – Congress designates the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Florida (P.L. 101-605). Key Largo and Looe Key national marine sanctuaries become part of the larger sanctuary.

First NOAA marine archaeologist hired.

1991

Thunder Bay, Michigan is made an Active Candidate. Santa Monica, California is removed from sanctuary designation consideration.

1992

January 17 – NOAA designates the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the nation's tenth sanctuary and the first in the Gulf of Mexico.

September 18 -- NOAA designates the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of California. It becomes the eleventh national marine sanctuary. Congress later affirmed the effective date as September 18, 1992 (P.L. 102-587).

November 4 -- Congress passes the Oceans Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-587). Among other things, that law: reauthorized the NMSA; designated Stellwagen Bank and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale national marine sanctuaries; prohibited leasing, exploring for, producing, or developing oil and gas in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; and inserted a new requirement for federal agencies to consult with the program on activities that are likely to injure sanctuary resources.

Norfolk Canyon, Virginia; Thunder Bay, Michigan; Northwest Straits and Olympic Coast, Washington are named as Active Candidates.

1994

July 16 -- NOAA designates the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Washington. It becomes the nation's twelfth marine sanctuary.

1995

In response to the 1989 vessel groundings in the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary, scientists continue restoration efforts. In the summer of 1995, reef rebuilders are hard at work creating new habitats. Original coral structures are rebuilt and later corals, sponges and sea fans are transplanted. In recognition of this historic restoration, the U.S. Department of Commerce awards the NOAA-led team of scientists its Bronze Medal for the successful completion of this unprecedented effort in reef habitat restoration.

1996

October 11—Congress reauthorizes the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (P.L. 104-283). This reauthorization requires NOAA to prepare a comprehensive management, recovery, and preservation plan for the USS Monitor; expands provisions that allow sanctuaries to seek private donations and raise monetary or in-kind contributions; allows expedited inclusion of a Kaho'owe Island in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; and adds Stetson bank to the Flower Garden Banks Sanctuary.

1997

January 27—NOAA changes the name of the Point-Reyes Farallon Islands National Marine Sanctuary to the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

July 1—After years of public process, NOAA issues a final management plan and regulations for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which was designated in 1990 by Congress (P.L. 101-605).

August 26 -- Norfolk Canyon, Virginia removed as an Active Candidate for sanctuary designation.

1998

The International Year of the Ocean is celebrated throughout the United States. President William J. Clinton and Vice President Albert Gore attend the National Oceans Conference in Monterey, California and call attention to the need for ocean protections. Five hundred ocean leaders endorse a comprehensive program for national action for the oceans.

NOAA and National Geographic Society's Sustainable Seas Expeditions prepare to launch a five year deep sea exploration of the nation's twelve national marine sanctuaries. During these expeditions, undersea pilots will photo document the natural history of marine plants and animals from aboard DeepWorker 2000, a one-person submersible. Public education is an important part of the Sustainable Seas Expeditions and educators around the country will share the experience through books, videos and the World Wide Web. The Sustainable Seas Expeditions is made possible through a $5 million grant from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund in San Francisco, California.

1999

April 14-26 -- The Sustainable Seas Expeditions begins first sea exploration in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, California. This first launch begins the Pacific Ocean explorations that will take expedition pilots to Cordell Bank Sanctuary (April 27-May 6), Monterey Bay Sanctuary (May 9-22) and Channel Islands Sanctuary (May 25-Jun 4).

December 6, 1999 -- President Clinton signs into law an historic funding increase for The National Marine Sanctuary Program. The $11.7 million increase for the 12 marine sanctuaries nearly doubles the program's budget of $14.4 million to $26 million. This action reflects the nation's growing commitment to the conservation of our vulnerable oceans.

2000

September 25 -- NOAA designates the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve in Lake Huron. It is the nation's 13th national marine sanctuary and the first in the Great Lakes.

November 13—Congress reauthorizes the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (P.L. 106-513). Among other things, the revised law now requires that all national marine sanctuaries be managed as the “National Marine Sanctuary System.”

December 4 -- President William Clinton signs Executive Order 13178, establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve. The President directs steps to be taken to bring this site into the National Marine Sanctuary System. The new reserve encompasses marine waters and submerged lands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and extends approximately 1,200 nautical miles long and 100 nautical miles wide. Prohibited within the new reserve are oil or gas extraction, discharges or removal of coral. It also includes 15 “reserve preservation areas.” More information is available at http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov.

2001

March 8—NOAA establishes the Tortugas Ecological Reserve as part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The reserve is, at the time, the largest fully-protected marine reserve in U.S. federal waters.

Non-profit National Marine Sanctuary Foundation was created to expand the reach of the program’s education and outreach nationwide. Board members include marine explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, Director of the Institute for Exploration Dr. Robert Ballard, and ocean explorer Dr. Sylvie Earle. The foundation was the organizing sponsor of the first ocean day on Capital Hill.

The steam engine of the Monitor is recovered within the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and transported to The Mariner’s Museum.

2002

The Civil War shipwreck USS Monitor’s gun turret had an historic recovery, along with the remains of two Monitor crewmen. Their remains were sent to the U.S. Army’s Central Identification Lab in Hawaii for identification. The Monitor’s turret is currently undergoing a long-term preservation process at The Mariners Museum.

The identity of the steamship Portland, considered New England’s Titanic, was confirmed in the waters of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. None of the 192 passengers survived when the Portland sank in a storm in 1898 off Cape Cod.

The California Fish and Game Commission voted to establish ten marine reserves and two marine conservation areas in the state waters of NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. This action created one of the largest marine reserve networks in U.S. waters.

At the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, scientists observed 140 humpback whales, the most ever seen in the sanctuary, on a research expedition cruise.

2003

Two volunteers from the Gulf of Farallones and Olympic Coast national marine sanctuaries were honored with the first Sanctuary Volunteer of the Year awards. Presented by National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the annual awards recognize the importance of more than 5,000 volunteers who assist sanctuary staff.

Sanctuary scientists developed the first map of the Gray’s Reef seabed.

The Gulf of Farallones Sanctuary Education Awareness and Long-term Stewardship Program (SEALS) celebrated a significant conservation victory after reversing the steady decline in harbor seal pupping. The sanctuary’s seal population has stabilized, due in large part to the effort of SEALS volunteers who have eliminated disturbances by people in areas where the seals rest with their young.

First successful effort to disentangle a humpback whale at the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

2004

A 500,000-gallon tank modeled after the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was installed at the Tennessee Aquarium. This is part of the sanctuary program’s larger event to work with aquariums across the country to install exhibits about national marine sanctuaries.

Three previously unknown tunicates or “sea squirts” were discovered at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary by Georgia Southern University scientists and students.

Scientists in Channel Islands, Florida Keys and Stellwagen Bank national marine sanctuaries began using acoustic tags to monitor fish (without harming them). The goal is to figure out how fish move relative to their preferred habitats and areas closed to fishing. The tags also tell scientists whether adult fish within marine reserves (fully protected areas) move out and supplement populations in unprotected areas.

Sanctuary staff and NOAA fishery scientists disentangle a juvenile right whale at Gray’s Reef that took about two weeks.

2005

Researchers from Stellwagen Bank placed recording devices, known as D-Tags, on the backs of several humpback whales. After retrieving the tags, they analyzed whale movement that revealed the humpbacks, when feeding, dive to the bottom, turn on their sides, and forage along the seafloor- which can increase their susceptibility to entanglement in gillnets and lobster gear.

The Encyclopedia of the Sanctuaries is released on the sanctuary Web site. NOAA’s online encyclopedia is an online field guide that provides photos, streaming video, and important biological information for more than 100 marine species from each sanctuary.

A group of local students and visiting scientists went aboard the University of Hawaii’s Pisces submarine to survey the deep waters in and around the Fagatele Bay. The first ever submersible dives into the American Samoa enabled the group to observe a number of new species for the territory.

Scientists announced that they identified six algae species that are new to science and 25 species of crustaceans previously unknown in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

2006

President Bush uses the Antiquities Act to establish the Papaha¯naumokua¯kea Marine National Monument (originally called the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument), making it the largest single conservation area in the history of the country.

More than three million Americans learn about sanctuaries for the first time from Jean-Michel Cousteau’s six-part high definition television Ocean Adventures series on PBS.

Scientists exploring areas of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary discover six species of soft coral and one species of a stony reef-building coral that is common to the Atlantic, bur rare in the Pacific. This is the terrestrial equivalent of discovering new areas of rain forests on land.

2007

July 29, 2007 — NOAA expands the state "no-take" marine reserves and one of the limited take marine conservation areas in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to include federal waters out to six nautical miles, making the reserve network the largest network of “no-take” marine reserves in the continental United States.