The United States has 95,000 miles of coastline. More than 50% of us live within 50 miles of water in coastal counties, which cover only 10% of the nation's land area. It is estimated that by the year 2025, 75% of Americans will be coastal people.
Understandably, coastal ocean space is subject to considerable stress from our terrestrial activities. After all, the sea is "downhill" from everything we do on land. It is a region of conflicting uses and users, all of whom can and have damaged this fragile environment.
Since the early 1970s, federal, state, and local governments began establishing a framework of laws and regulations to protect coasts and adjacent oceans. These actions created significant tension among parties having a stake there. Nevertheless, over the past 30 years there has been a general acceptance of the importance of ocean conservation. Without a doubt, there are demonstrated societal and economic benefits from a healthy ocean.
A key element in coastal protection is establishment of "marine protected areas," which is a generic term for everything from small nature reserves to relatively large sites designated "National Marine Sanctuaries." Creating "wet" nature reserves and cultural heritage sites protects unique features while permitting controlled public access and use. These areas serve as important calibration points for scientists to use in comparing the protected area with those nearby that are exposed to the full pressure of man's activities. Living species in the sanctuary can "seed" adjacent areas to help maintain healthy populations.
The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, together with its six congressional reauthorizations, established the procedures for selecting and designating a marine sanctuary. The program is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Department of Commerce.
Designation of a marine sanctuary is long, complex, and costly. NOAA estimates that the average process takes from six to eight years at a cost of about $750,000 per year. It can be done in two ways: by initiative of the Secretary of Commerce or act of Congress. While Congress has approval authority for all sanctuary designations, they have created only two sites by direct legislative action.
The Monitor became the first national marine sanctuary in 1975. Sunk off Cape Hatteras in December 1862, the wreck was located in 1973. Water depth (240 feet), poor visibility, and frequent strong currents make treasure diving here improbable, though not impossible. With an area of only one square mile, this is one of the smallest sanctuaries. But it is a site where underwater archaeology and recreational diving now can take place under controlled conditions.
Almost 25 years after the Monitor was designated, there currently are 12 sanctuaries ranging in size from one-quarter square mile (American Samoa) to 5,300 square miles (Monterey Bay). In sum, they cover some 18,000 square miles. While this seems like a large area, it is only 0.5% of the nation's 34 million square miles of territorial sea.
As expected, there is a considerable exercise of politics, worthy and unworthy, when the government proposes fencing off large tracts of the coastal ocean. A good example is the proposed designation of the 13th site, Thunder Bay, Michigan. Having both unique natural features and numerous shipwrecks, this would be the first freshwater marine sanctuary. But this designation process has been going on for over a decade. Conflicts between federal, state, and local governments as well as private groups have resulted in significant delays. NOAA states that this sanctuary will be designated this year. It is the same thing they said in 1999.
For the current fiscal year, this program has received a budget of $26 million—which is about $12,000 more than last year. This new level is barely sufficient to support the 12 existing sanctuaries fully. It is unlikely that the sanctuaries' budget will increase greatly in future years. As a consequence, development of additional sites is unlikely other than Thunder Bay. Instead, NOAA will concentrate on investments in the existing sanctuaries. Many of the 12 sanctuaries have developed citizen advisory groups as well as non-profit support organizations that raise funds, provide volunteer workers, and develop public support for their sanctuary.
To learn more about America's "wet wilderness" go to: www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov.