What is the National Marine Sanctuary Program?
The National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) serves as the trustee for a system of thirteen underwater parks, encompassing 18,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Massachusetts to American Samoa, from Lake Huron to the Gulf of Mexico. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Ocean Service has managed National Marine Sanctuaries since passage of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act in 1972. Protecting Sanctuary resources requires a great deal of planning, management, and cooperation between federal, state, and local officials. The National Marine Sanctuary Program works cooperatively with its partners and the public to balance enjoyment and use with long-term conservation. Increasing public awareness of our marine heritage, scientific research, monitoring, exploration, educational programs, and outreach are just a few of the ways the National Marine Sanctuary Program fulfills its mission to the American people. The Program’s staff mem
