Protect New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument!

UPDATE OCTOBER 8, 2021

In a historic move to honor the American tradition of establishing monuments on land and at sea to protect and preserve national treasures, President Biden today issued proclamations restoring protections for three National Monuments, including the unique underwater ecosystem of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.

Following today's historic announcement, our Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument will once again enjoy necessary protection alongside the terrestrial Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, restoring not only environmental and historic integrity but also critically important sacred spaces, helping advance justice for Tribal nations:

“President Biden did the right thing restoring the Bears Ears National Monument. For us, the Monument never went away. We will always return to these lands to manage and care for our sacred sites, waters and medicines. The Monument represents a historic opportunity for the federal government to learn and incorporate our tribal land management practices. Practices that we developed over centuries and are needed more now than ever. President Biden was right to reinforce the action taken by President Obama almost five years ago. We battled for this Monument because it matters.”– Chairman Shaun Chapoose, Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee and BEITC member.

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument restoration process will result in:

• President Biden signing a proclamation to restore protections for the monument on October 8, 2021
• Commercial fishing in the National Monument will once again be prohibited, with fishing for red crab and American lobster to be phased out by September 15, 2023
• Consistent with President Obama’s Proclamation 9496, recreational fishing in the National Monument may continue

Read more about this monumental victory, here.

UPDATE JANUARY, 2021

Good news! President Biden moved quickly today on day 1 of his Administration to begin the process of restoring protections needed to #SavetheSeamounts and #MonumentsForAll! This takes us one step closer to restoring the Monument for a healthier ocean.

Protecting special places in the ocean creates opportunities for ocean wildlife, fauna, and habitats to thrive and for ecosystems to build more resilience to climate change.

Stay tuned for ways YOU can help restore protections in this treasure or email FMI!

UPDATE JUNE 5, 2020

Our nation is in crisis:
➜More than 100,000 people around the country have died from a virus that is still not contained
➜More than 40 million people are unemployed, with many still waiting for economic assistance
➜Systemic racism in America is being called out and allies are rising up with those on the frontlines to demand racial justice

And yet today, in the middle of this multidimensional crisis burning in our hearts and in our streets, our President announced against the wishes of 95% of Americans and a majority of reputable ocean scientists that he will roll back and undermine protections on the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in New England.

Scientists have documented that providing sanctuary for animals to shelter, feed, and breed helps them withstand other stresses and recover more rapidly after disturbances.

Marine national monuments retain the integrity of vibrant, high-functioning ecosystems and keep them intact. Protections on marine monuments help everyone who loves the ocean—from whales to whale watchers and beyond.

Help save the seamounts by joining Surfrider in signing this National Ocean Protection Coalition petition today to lend your voice.

HISTORIC ACCOUNT

An attack on our national monuments is an attack on all of America's public lands and coasts.

President Trump is taking the unpopular step of reviewing past national monument designations.

Lovers of natural beauty know that designations of natural resource protection advance the #MonumentsForAll approach we hold dear in America, and allow us to afford protection in perpetuity so that future generations may have the opportunities of natural wonder we now enjoy.

Initially, Wednesday, July 26, was the deadline to make your voice heard by the Department of Commerce that you want national monuments to continue to be protected. However, the Commerce public comment period deadline was extended and now ends on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 11:59 pm. 

After a couple years and Secretary of the Department of Interior's later, on May 22, 2019, the Wall Street Journal reported that, “U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says he has no plans for additional changes to national monuments as recommended by his predecessor, but says it’s ultimately up to President Donald Trump.”

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