Announcing the United States' Newest National Marine Sanctuary in Nearly 20 Years: Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

November 21, 2019

Paul Orlando, Chesapeake Bay Regional Coordinator for the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

​The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announced that a new national marine sanctuary was designated for the first time in nearly 20 years and introduced Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary in Maryland. Mallows Bay is most renowned for its "Ghost Fleet," the partially submerged remains of more than 100 wooden steamships that were built in response to threats from World War I-era German U-boats that were sinking ships in the Atlantic. Although the ships never saw action during the war, their construction at more than 40 shipyards in 17 states reflected the massive national wartime effort that drove the expansion and economic development of communities and related maritime service industries.

Education Materials

Presentation Slides

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

NOAA designates new Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

Community celebrates new Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary