Let's Celebrate 50 Years of Ocean Conservation and Stewardship

President Lyndon B. Johnson's Science Advisory Committee calls for a system of marine wilderness preserves in their 1966 Effective Use of the Sea.

The first marine sanctuary bills (about a dozen by 1971) introduced in House were to order Department of the Interior to study the possibility of creating a system of marine sanctuaries and to create ocean places along the California coast to ban oil production.

The Stratton Commission's Panel on Management and Development of the Coastal Zone recommends to the commission that: "Marine sanctuaries or preserves should be established to protect and manage endangered areas identified by National and State surveys and for ecological baseline studies."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, the parent agency of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, is created.

The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuary Act passes with Title III creating the National Marine Sanctuary Program.

USS Monitor wreck is discovered by scientists from Duke University, MIT, and the state of North Carolina.

The first National Marine Sanctuary Program regulations are published.

Monitor and Key Largo national marine sanctuaries are designated.

The National Marine Sanctuary Program launches its long prestigious history of research expeditions when Monitor National Marine Sanctuary conducts the first ever research expedition to the wreck. In the same year, Cordell Expeditions begins its explorations of Cordell Bank, which will lead to the designation of the sanctuary in 1989.

President Carter directs NOAA to produce a pool of sites for future sanctuary consideration. The List of Recommendation Areas, the pool of 68 sites for future consideration, is announced as a result. The LRA is based on nominations made by states, agencies, and other outside parties.

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is designated.

Looe Key (now part of Florida Keys), Point Reyes-Farallones Islands (now Greater Farallones), and Gray’s Reef national marine sanctuaries are designated. The first mooring buoys ever installed to protect a reef are installed on French Reef in Key Largo. Thunder Bay is made an Underwater Preserve by the state of Michigan.

The National Marine Sanctuary Program Program Development Plan lays out the mission and goals including calling for the Site Evaluation List. The first assessment of fish and benthic communities of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is conducted.

The first zoning in the National Marine Sanctuary Program is implemented in Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. The List of Recommended Areas is repealed and replaced with the Site Evaluation List; the SEL is based on the recommendations of regional teams of scientists.

The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuary Act is reauthorized, adding new detailed guidance for designation and requiring that NOAA should conduct research and education programs.

Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary is designated. The wreck of USS Monitor is added to the National Historic Register, the first underwater site on it. Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary launches a three-year effort to study humpback whales and harbors seals in the sanctuary.

The Mariner's Museum is selected to receive and conserve artifacts from the Monitor. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary pioneers Los Marineros, a multidisciplinary marine education program for 5th graders. Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary prepares its Marine Mammal Field Guide to the Gulf of the Farallones.

The Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act is reauthorized, creating special use permit program, response and restoration authorities, and enforcement authorities. Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary publishes its first illustrated field and laboratory guide to seaweeds. The first long-term monitoring program is established in East and West Flower Garden Banks.

Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary is designated. The first annual aerial survey of canopy kelp in what will become Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is completed. Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary produces illustrated guides to fishes and to offshore recreation.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is established, the first sanctuary designation done by an act of Congress. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary establishes the first sanctuary advisory council in the system and the first Water Quality Protection Program. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa launches its first Marine Science Summer Camp. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary divers witness the mass release of coral spawning for the first time.

An assessment of the National Marine Sanctuary Program conducted by G. Carleton Ray recommends, among other things, that it should adopt large regional zoning models, expand the constituency of the program, and elevate research and education programs.

Stellwagen Bank, Flower Garden Banks, Monterey Bay, and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale national marine sanctuaries are designated. Title III of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act is reauthorized as the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and adds federal agency consultation provision, new policies and purposes, and authority for sanctuary advisory councils.

An External Review Team report (i.e., the Potter Report) recommends that the National Marine Sanctuary Program undertake an aggressive effort to communicate and cooperate with other agencies, groups, and organizations. Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary establishes Beach Watch, the first volunteer program in the sanctuary system and one of the first modern volunteer programs in NOAA. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary initiates the first ever Great American Fish Count.

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is designated. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary launches its Water Quality Protection Program.

The National Marine Sanctuary Program adopts its whale tail logo, as part of its now iconic branding program. Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association is established, the first friends group in the system. Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary records the first birth of a northern fur seal in the islands in over 170 years. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary initiates its Ocean Count citizen science volunteer program. Marine debris removal efforts begin in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

The Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act is reauthorized, adding a number of revenue enhancement authorities to the act. Stetson Bank is legislatively added to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which also initiates its signature Down Under, Out Yonder education program.

The National Marine Sanctuary Program and National Geographic launch the Sustainable Seas Expeditions. 9.9 million readers learn of the sanctuary system through an article in National Geographic and National Public Radio takes a million and half listeners on a radio expedition to sanctuaries.

The LiMPETS student volunteer program is established. Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary initiates its popular, Savannah-based Ocean Fest.

The National Marine Sancuaries Act is reauthorized, requiring that all sanctuaries be collectively managed as a coherent system. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is designated and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve is created. The National Marine Protected Areas Center is created by Executive Order. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is established. The sanctuary system launches its first website and its first newsletter, Sanctuary Watch. The National Academy of Public Administration conducts an external review which finds the sanctuary system is fundamentally well conceived and is beginning to demonstrate notable successes. The sanctuary system establishes the Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series for peer-reviewed research reports. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary opens the Shipwreck Trail and dedicates the Eco-Discoery Center in Key West. Two new volunteer programs are launched: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Snapshot Day volunteer monitoring program and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Naturalist Onboard program. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary sponsors the first ever International Marine Debris Conference.

The sanctuary system and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation launch the first Capitol Hill Ocean Week. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary creates the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, the largest fully-protected marine reserve in the United States at the time. Monitor National Marine Sanctuary recovers the engine in partnership with the US Navy. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary supports the first modern crossing by a Chumash tomol to the islands. Three signature outreach efforts are started: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's MERITO outreach program, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Maritime Festival, and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Ocean Discovery Day.

The sanctuary system establishes its Maritime Heritage program. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is made a Particulary Sensitive Sea Area, the first in the United States. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary establishes its whale disentanglement program. Monitor National Marine Sanctuary recovers the turret and other artifacts in partnership with the US Navy. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary founds the Naturalist Corps in partnership with Channel Islands National Park. The MPA Center launches its newsletter, MPA Connections.

The National MPA Center establishes its Federal Advisory Committee, creates a formal definition of a marine protected area for the U.S. government, and completes a classification system. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary successfully disentangles a whale for the first time. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary develops protocols for rescuing and transplanting corals from construction sites.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument is established by Presidential Proclamation.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument becomes Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and partners launch the Dolphin SMART Program. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa releases its condition report, the first in the system to do so. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary establishes the Intergovernmental Policy Council, whose members include the four coastal treaty tribes and the state of Washington.

The sanctuary system introduces Sanctuary Sam, the system's new mascot. The sanctuary system founds the Ocean Guardian School program, patterned after the Reef Guardian School Program of Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General examines the program and finds The sanctuary system is generally making progress towards long-term protection of marine ecosystems and cultural resources. The National MPA Center completes the national framework for the MPA system. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary expands to add Davidson Seamount. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa are added to the U.S. Tentative List for possible World Heritage nomination.

Rose Atoll Marine National Monument is declared. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary co-hosts the first International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary debuts its Blue Star Diver program. Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and partners launch the Whale SENSE Program. Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary conducts an oral history project to capture the history of Cordell Expeditions and its role in protecting the bank.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary creates a Research Area in the southern third of the sanctuary. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary's Channel Islands Naturalist Corps receives the Take Pride in America Outstanding Federal Volunteer Program Award.

Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary expands to become National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. The expansion enlarges the site from the smallest to the largest national marine sanctuary in the system and encompasses Rose Atoll Marine National Monument. ONMS co-hosts the First Nations Climate Summit at the National Museum of the American Indian.

The sanctuary system completes its first ever National Marine Sanctuary System Condition Report. The sanctuary system forms its Business Advisory Council, the first national level sanctuary advisory council. Two sailors found when the turret was recovered from the Monitor are interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

The community-driven Sanctuary Nomination Process is launched, replacing the defunct Site Evaluation List. The National MPA Center is formally integrated with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and launches an online cultural resources toolkit for MPA managers. A number of signature events for the sanctuary system are launched: Get Into Your Sanctuary Day, the Earth is Blue social media campaign, and an MPA blog (in partnership with Open Channels). Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary expands to ten times its original size to include waters along Alcona and Presque Isle counties. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and partners launch Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument expands and reopens Mokupapapa Discovery Center in a new location.

Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary are both expanded. The MPA Center Federal Advisory Committee and the system of sanctuary advisory councils together, for the first time, issue a "Call to Action" for action in recreation and tourism use of MPAs, including inviting people to play in MPAs, embracing the human dimension of ocean places, sustaining ecosystems and values, and engaging recreational users as ocean stewards.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is expanded to approximately 600,000 square miles via a Presidential Proclamation. The sanctuary system issues its first Volunteer Program Handbook. Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary opens the Ocean Exploration Center at the Point Reyes Lighthouse. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa leads the Festival of Sites Village to Visitor program to welcome passengers from cruise ships.

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary is designated. The sanctuary system completes the development of guidelines to develop sponsorship and licensing agreements. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and partners launch Mission: Iconic Reefs to do long-term, large-scale reef restoration at important reef areas. In Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Chumash community representatives develop an assessment of the sanctuary's ecosystem with a focus on Chumash perspectives and place-based values connected to their sacred homeland islands and surrounding ocean waters. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa hosts its first Fautasi Heritage Symposium.

NOAA turns 50. The sanctuary system launches its online platform for virtual diving, Sanctuaries 360. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute publish a guidebook on transplanting deepsea corals. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary opens a visitor center, Kauai Ocean Discovery, on Maui.

Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary is designated. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary expands to include an additional fourteen banks, tripling in size. The National Academy of Public Administration conducts an external review of the sanctuary system (its third) that finds the system has successfully advanced its mission and vision.

50th Anniversary of the sanctuary system! We can't wait to see what the year brings!

Office of National Marine Sanctuaries stamp series released as part of 50th anniversary in 2022

Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is designated as America's 16th national marine sanctuary and the third in the Great Lakes. The area encompasses 1,300 square nautical miles (1,722 square miles) of eastern Lake Ontario waters and bottomlands adjacent to Jefferson, Oswego, Cayuga, and Wayne counties in the state of New York.

Designated in 2024, Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is America’s 17th national marine sanctuary, the sixth off the U.S. West Coast, and one of the largest in the National Marine Sanctuary System.

NOAA announces its decision to designate Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary, a 582,570 square-mile area in the Pacific Ocean that is two times the size of Texas. The sanctuary is within the existing Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and provides additional protections and management tools to strengthen conservation of the marine areas of the monument.