Celebrate the Ocean
Sea to Shining Sea Newsletter - August 2021
Few places can compete with the diversity of the National Marine Sanctuary System, which protects America's most iconic natural and cultural marine resources. Throughout the system, we work with diverse partners and stakeholders to promote responsible and sustainable uses that ensure the health of our most valued ocean places. These ocean parks are open to the public, and we invite you to enjoy them and join us as we explore the depths of the ocean.
You're Invited to "Get Into Your Sanctuary" August 2-8, 2021!
Register now for this week's variety of activities across the National Marine Sanctuary System - from sea to shining sea. This year's "Get Into Your Sanctuary" will be a hybrid of both online and in-person activities. So, wherever you are, you will have the opportunity to visit with more than just the national marine sanctuary nearest you. And don't forget to show off your own marine adventures by entering the national photo contest. There are four different categories, including "Sanctuaries at Home"!
New National Marine Sanctuary proposed in Lake Ontario!
This summer, NOAA released a draft plan for a national marine sanctuary in eastern Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. In partnership with the state of New York, the proposed sanctuary would manage a nationally significant collection of maritime heritage resources, including shipwrecks, and provide a national stage for promoting heritage tourism and recreation. NOAA is soliciting public comment on the draft environmental impact statement and management plan until September 10th. Your voice can help shape the future of resources to be managed and interpreted for generations to come.
SanctSound: Exploring underwater sounds within the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System
NOAA and the U.S. Navy are working to better understand underwater sound within the National Marine Sanctuary System. Since fall 2018, the agencies have been working with a number of scientific partners to study sound within seven national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument, in waters off Hawai'i and the U.S. East and West Coasts. Standardized measurements are being used to identify sounds produced by marine animals, physical processes (e.g., wind and waves), and human activities, and comparisons are being made across these 30 nationally-distributed locations. Have you ever wondered how the snapping shrimp got its name? Or been serenaded by the song of the Humpback whale? Now is your chance thanks to SanctSound!
New NOAA Climate Council to enhance delivery of climate science and services
The Climate Council is composed of senior leaders at the highest levels from across the agency, and provides recommendations to the NOAA Administrator on the agency's climate-related mission, resource, and policy priorities. By coordinating climate work across NOAA and partners, the Council will strengthen NOAA's climate services and bolster existing coordination activities. The Council will ensure that critical environmental information and services provided by NOAA to the American people keep pace with increasing demand and are delivered effectively and equitably to all communities.
NOAA Announces FY22 Multi-stressor Federal Funding Opportunity
NOAA is soliciting proposals to increase our understanding of the combined impacts of multiple stressors, including harmful algal blooms, deoxygenation, ocean acidification, and increasing temperatures, on the function and health of marine ecosystems within the context of climate change. This information will be used to improve place-based management of marine protected areas and enable the proactive protection of these critical ecosystems under future climate scenarios.
Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful
President Biden has challenged Americans to join together in an inclusive and locally led effort to conserve at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. In order to hear from the public and interested stakeholders, NOAA will be hosting opportunities on August 26th and September 13th for the public to learn about, and provide input on, "America the Beautiful." Please visit https://www.noaa.gov/america-the-beautiful to learn more.