Nearly a decade of work with partners, including the States of California, Texas, Massachusetts and Hawaii, resulted in the designation of four new sanctuaries: Monterey Bay, Flower Garden Banks, Stellwagen Bank, and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale. While this was a banner year for growth, the achievement was in extending sanctuary protections to the extraordinary resources of these areas.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary built on its impressive protections by enhancing protection for white sharks, reducing oil spill risk by shifting vessel traffic lanes, and banning harvest of krill. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has worked on all scales to protect its resources, from local mooring buoys installed to help prevent anchor damage to international recognition of the sanctuary obtained as a no-anchoring area. From passive acoustic networks and right whale apps, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary has pioneered innovative techniques and projects to help protect its resources. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has been a pioneer as well, with its annual whale count and large whale entanglement response program.