NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

National Marine Sanctuary System

Safeguarding America's Premier Marine Places

From Washington state to the Gulf of America and from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Islands, the National Marine Sanctuary System protects 18 underwater parks spanning over 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. By investing in innovative solutions, we strengthen these iconic places to address 21st-century challenges while supporting America's commerce and tourism. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation’s iconic ocean and Great Lakes waters.

Eastern Region

Florida Keys Flower Garden Banks Gray's Reef Hudson Canyon (in designation) Lake Erie (in designation) Lake Ontario Mallows Bay-Potomac River Monitor Stellwagen Bank Thunder Bay Wisconsin-Shipwreck Coast

West Coast Region

Channel Islands Chumash Heritage Cordell Bank Greater Farallones Monterey Bay Olympic Coast

Pacific Islands Region

American Samoa Hawaii Humpback Whale Pacific Islands Heritage (in designation) Papahānaumokuākea

Olympic Coast
National Marine Sanctuary

Washington Coast, USA

Sanctuary News

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How Sharks Keep the Ocean Healthy

Sharks have long been portrayed as terrifying predators of the deep, but really, they are essential guardians of the ocean. Despite their fearsome reputation, these apex predators play a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. Sharks contribute in ways that might surprise you, from regulating prey populations to keeping coral reefs thriving. In this article, we'll explore five key ways sharks help keep our ocean healthy, including in your national marine sanctuaries, and discuss why healthy shark populations are vital for the future of all marine life.

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Why Deep-Sea Corals Are Essential to Our Ocean

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Buoyed by the Mission: The People and Work Behind Your Florida Keys Mooring Buoys

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Force Blue Tour of Duty

three boats on the water with people fishing over the sides

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How National Marine Sanctuaries Fuel Local Economies

Sunset from the back deck of a large vessel at sea

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Restoring Deep Habitats In and Around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

A view from a seaside cliff of four kayakers paddling in the ocean with a rocky island in the background.

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NOAA's National Ocean Service: Working for you!

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Rare Species Found in Your National Marine Sanctuaries and Monuments

researchers on deck preparing to deploy a new data buoy

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Notes from the Field

Join us behind the scenes for a look at research taking place above and below the water.

Fish Bits

A group of divers underwater holding an American flag.

Force Blue Veterans Conduct Tour of Duty in Your Marine Sanctuaries

Become an Iconic Reef Guardian in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

volunteers and kids gather outdoors to observe the environment

Sign Up for Bioblitz 2025 at Mallows Bay

National Marine Sanctuary System Posters

ROV shinning it's light at the bottom of Davidson Seamount; A varity of sealife can be seen including deep-sea corals, sponges, deep-sea fishes, crustaceans, jellies, and an octopus gardens

Coastal mangroves and seagrass are nurseries for many species of fish, invertebrates and birds that inhabit Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. These calm, shallow waters are ideal for paddle sports, snorkeling, and fishing for species like tarpon. The offshore coral reef features elkhorn and brain corals, sponges, and other invertebrates which create habitat for spiny lobster, urchins, and many other species of reef fish like sergeant major and larger fish like sharks, rays, barracuda, and snapper.

During the National Marine Sanctuary System's 50th anniversary celebration in 2022, a commemorative poster series was launched to capture the beauty and diversity of each site in the system. The posters are two sided, featuring original artwork on the front and educational information on the back. Other posters created for the system over the years have also been added. Dive in and download your sanctuary posters today!

Virtual Dives

Immerse yourself in the ocean and your national marine sanctuaries without getting wet!

Dive Into Your Sanctuaries

Our planet is an ocean planet: Earth Is Blue. The National Marine Sanctuary System protects some of the most iconic underwater places throughout the United States, but we can't do it without you. No matter where you are, the ocean and Great Lakes are in your hands. We hope these images inspire you to help care for our ocean and to spread the word that Earth isn't green – it's blue.

Submit your own photos and join us on:

A Hawaiian monk seal mother and pup lying on a beach

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Stories from the Blue

Stories from the Blue celebrate the people at the center of national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments. What does the National Marine Sanctuary System mean to you?

What does the National Marine Sanctuary System mean to you?

Sanctuary Nomination Process

NOAA invites communities across the nation to nominate their most treasured places in our marine and Great Lakes waters for consideration as national marine sanctuaries.

nominate.noaa.gov