Northeast and Great Lakes Region
Lake Ontario (proposed) Mallows Bay-Potomac River Monitor Stellwagen Bank Thunder Bay Wisconsin-Lake Michigan (in designation)
Sanctuary News
Help Shape the Future: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary releases draft management plan
Just off the coast of California lies one of the most bountiful, biodiverse areas of our ocean – Monterey Bay, also known as the "Serengeti of the Sea. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary exists to protect the varied habitats and species of this ocean wonder. This month, NOAA is releasing a draft plan to update management objectives, activities, and regulations within the sanctuary, and is asking for public input.
Virtual Dives
Immerse yourself in the ocean and your national marine sanctuaries without getting wet!
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.
Join us on 
and submit your own photos.
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?
Earth is Blue Magazine
Explore Sanctuaries Live
with real-time video and communication feeds
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.
Visit
National marine sanctuaries are ideal destinations for travelers who enjoy a diversity of recreational activities.
Get Involved
Volunteers help to ensure marine sanctuaries remain America's underwater treasures for future generations.