Silver Spring, Md. – May 6, 2021 – National Marine Sanctuary Foundation President and CEO Kris Sarri released the following statement on the Biden-Harris Administration’s “America the Beautiful” initiative:

“America’s ocean and Great Lakes cover more than 4.5 million square miles, from the icy cold waters of the Arctic to the tropical blue waters of the Caribbean and sweet seas of the Great Lakes. They are central to our culture, our economy, and our future.

“Protecting our ocean and Great Lakes is a win for our climate, for biodiversity, and for people. National marine sanctuaries play a critical role in building a more climate-resilient future for our ocean, the Great Lakes, and the communities that depend on them.

“Communities in New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida, California, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands are calling for the new designation or expansion of sanctuaries. We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration’s call for the expansion and investment in the National Marine Sanctuary System and stand ready to work with them.”

Contact: 

 Chip Weiskotten

Director of Strategic Communications

518.669.3936

chip@marinesanctuary.org

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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports America’s national marine sanctuaries through our mission to protect species, conserve ecosystems and preserve America’s maritime heritage. We accomplish our mission through community stewardship and engagement programs, on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs, and scientific research and exploration. The Foundation fosters innovative projects that are solution-oriented, scalable and transferable, and develop strategic partnerships that promote the conservation and recovery of species and their habitats. Learn more at marinesanctuary.org.