Designate the Proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary
Located just over 100 miles southeast of New York City and rivaling the depth and scale of the Grand Canyon, Hudson Canyon is the largest submarine canyon along the United States’ Atlantic coast and one of the largest in the world. Hudson Canyon is rich in biodiversity and provides habitat to a remarkable diversity of marine life, including deep sea corals, sharks, whales, and hundreds of species of fishes, sea turtles, seabirds, and invertebrates.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the Administration is advancing the public process to designate the sanctuary.
Sign our letter using the form to the right to urge the Biden-Harris Administration to designate the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary.
The marine waters of New York and New Jersey support an abundance of diverse marine life, robust fisheries, a rich maritime history, and are integral to the region’s economy.
The New York Bight supports one of the highest diversities of marine mammals and sea turtles in US waters. Bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales, and loggerhead turtles call the waters in and around Hudson Canyon home. Hudson Canyon is also home to deep sea corals that provide habitat and refuge for a variety of species and contribute to marine biodiversity. Deep-sea corals grow very slowly, often only a few millimeters per year, and some produce colonies that are over 1,000 years old. Sanctuary designation would prevent oil and gas exploration which could destroy these rare and fragile ecosystems that if damaged would take centuries to recover.
Hudson Canyon provides opportunities for numerous recreational activities that support tourism and the local economy. It is a popular destination for recreational fishing, whale watching, and birding. A sanctuary would help foster partnerships for education and research in communities across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Urge the Administration to designate the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary so this site can receive the national recognition it deserves.
Deadline to comment: Friday, August 5
