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Marine Sanctuaries
Overview
National marine sanctuaries (NMS) are areas that have been set aside for maintaining the integrity of their unique natural and cultural resources. They include everything from the breeding and feeding grounds of marine animals, to significant coral reefs, kelp forest habitats, and the remains of a sunken historic Civil War ironclad. Currently there are 13 NMS, found in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, off the coast of American Samoa, and in the Great Lakes. NCCOS is partnering with the National Marine Sanctuary Program to determine their overall status, achieve their preservation objectives, and examine the alternative management actions on sanctuary ecosystems. CSCOR-sponsored scientists, through the Impacts of Land Use, South Florida Ecosystems and Harmful Algal Blooms programs, work closely with staff at different national marine sanctuaries to improve our understanding of sanctuary ecosystems.