Sanctuary Nominations

Aerial view of the white Tibbetts Point Lighthouse and surrounding buildings situated on a grassy headland, with choppy waves crashing against the rocky shore under a dramatic sky filled with layered clouds.
An aerial view of historic Tibbetts Point Lighthouse in the Town of Cape Vincent in Jefferson County, New York. The lighthouse marks the point where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River and overlooks the eastern boundary of Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA

Below are the nominations NOAA has received from communities. NOAA is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the information included in each nomination. This information has been submitted (in accordance with OMB Control Number 0648-0682) to allow NOAA to evaluate the national significance and management considerations of the area as a potential national marine sanctuary.

Completed Designations

Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

  • Date Submitted: 7/17/15
  • Date Added to Inventory: 10/5/15
  • Inventory Review: 9/24/20
  • Date Started Designation: 11/9/21
  • Date Designated: 11/30/24

Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary

  • Date Submitted: 1/17/17
  • Date Added to Inventory: 3/21/17
  • Date Started Designation: 4/17/19
  • Date Designated: 6/5/24

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

  • Date Submitted: 9/16/14
  • Date Added to Inventory: 1/12/15
  • Date Started Designation: 10/7/15
  • Date Designated: 9/3/19

Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary

  • Date Submitted: 12/2/14
  • Date Added to Inventory: 2/5/15
  • Date Started Designation: 10/7/15
  • Date Designated: 8/16/21

Designations in Progress

Pacific Remote Islands

  • Date Submitted: 3/11/23
  • Date Added to Inventory: Not added. Before ONMS was able to complete its review of the nomination package to determine whether it met the national significance criteria and management considerations described in the sanctuary nomination process, on March 24, 2023, President Biden directed NOAA to consider initiating designation of a national marine sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands. NOAA looked to the guidance provided in the Presidential Memorandum when it decided to initiate the national marine sanctuary designation process for the Pacific Remote Islands.
  • Date Started Designation: 4/17/23

Documents:

For more information on the national marine sanctuary designation process for this nomination please visit the designation website.

Hudson Canyon (New York, Atlantic)

  • Date Submitted: 11/17/16
  • Date Added to Inventory: 2/23/17
  • Date Started Designation: 6/8/22

Documents:

For more information on the national marine sanctuary designation process for this nomination please visit the designation website.

Lake Erie Quadrangle (Pennsylvania)

  • Date Submitted: 12/31/15
  • Date Added to Inventory: 2/22/16
  • Date Started Designation: 5/19/23

Documents:

For more information on the national marine sanctuary designation process for this nomination please visit the designation website.

Inventory of Successful Nominations

NOAA has determined the following nominations have successfully met the national significance criteria and management considerations described in the sanctuary nomination process. Areas under consideration by NOAA for national marine sanctuary designation will be selected from this inventory

St. George Unangan Heritage (Alaska)

  • Date Submitted: 10/1/16
  • Date Added to Inventory: 1/27/17

Documents:

Alaĝum Kanuux̂ (Heart of the Ocean) (Alaska)

Listen to the pronunciation of Alaĝum Kanuux̂

  • Date Submitted: 12/17/21
  • Date Added to Inventory: 6/8/22

Documents:

Cashes Ledge Area (Gulf of Maine)

  • Date Submitted: 7/29/2024
  • Date Added to Inventory: 1/6/25

Documents:

Addition to the inventory does not guarantee that a nominated area will become a national marine sanctuary. National marine sanctuary designation is a separate public process that by law, is highly public and participatory, and often takes several years to complete. View the Designation Process Steps Document (PDF).

Nominations Under Review by NOAA

The following nominations have been submitted by communities for NOAA's review.

None at this time.

Nominations Declined by NOAA

NOAA has determined the following nominations are not eligible for further review. Interested communities may choose to revise and resubmit these nominations at a later time.

Shipwreck Coast (Michigan, Whitefish Point, Lake Superior)

  • Date Submitted: 12/4/17
  • Date Declined: 10/12/21

Documents:

Southern California Offshore Banks (California)

  • Date Submitted: 1/9/17
  • Date Declined: 03/12/18

Documents:

Nominations Withdrawn

NOAA has determined the following nominations do not meet the national significance criteria and management considerations described in the sanctuary nomination process. The nominating organization has requested that it be removed from consideration

Baltimore Canyon Urban (Maryland, Atlantic)

  • Date Submitted: 12/2/16
  • Date Withdrawn: 1/30/17

Documents:

Mariana Trench (CNMI, Pacific)

  • Date Submitted: 12/5/16
  • Date Added to Inventory: 3/13/17
  • Date Withdrawn: 9/8/23

Documents: