Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument

Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
Location Atlantic Ocean
Area 4,913 square miles (12,720 km2)
Created September 15, 2016 (2016-September-15)
Governing body U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Commerce

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a marine national monument of the United States off the coast of New England, on the edge of Georges Bank. It was created by President Barack Obama on September 15, 2016.[1] It is the first U.S. national marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean.[2][3]

Creation

President Barack Obama designated the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (NCSMNM) on September 21, 2016, using the Antiquities Act of 1906.[1] The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is the first and only Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean.[1] It was created in response to citizens requesting for area in the Northeast Atlantic to be protected, due to its importance as a biodiversity hotspot, habitat for numerous rare and endangered species, and a valuable scientific and historical site.[1][4]

According to President Barack Obama in the Federal Register,[1] the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is the smallest area feasible to provide necessary management; designating a smaller zone would lead to an inaccurate interpretation and protection of biodiversity within the fragile area. The designation of the Marine National Monument occurred after numerous meetings and deliberations with stakeholders including conservationists, community members, fishermen, and local businesses; administrative officials gathered social, economic, and environmental data to inform the creation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.[4]

Residing at depths of ~4,000 meters, deep sea corals and other foundational species are highly sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances such as bottom trawling and mining extractions.[1] The objective of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is to maintain biodiversity for research, while encouraging and providing support to fisheries to become more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.[5] Within three years, following the creation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will administer a management plan for the area, adapting to requests and changes.[6] Stakeholders will continue to be engaged throughout the process through meetings with administrators.[5]

Five commercial fishing industries, Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association, Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association, Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, Garden State Seafood Association, and Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance, took the creation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to court in the beginning of March 2017.[7] They state that President Barack Obama did not have the right to designate the Marine National Monument under the Antiquities Act.[7] In a legal document published on March 29, 2017, it was stated that the fishermen do not want any restrictions on their industries, and argue that the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is unlawful and harmful to their businesses.[7]

The final designation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument protects 40% of the originally proposed area, after intense deliberation, considering equity to those affected.[7] Areas within the Marine National Monument will remain open to recreational fishing and all military activity.[1] Subsequent to the creation of the Marine National Monument, a 60-day transition period was allowed for all commercial industries, besides the Atlantic Lobster and Deep-Sea Red Crab fisheries, which are permitted to continue fishing in the area for seven years after the creation of the monument.[1] In order to evolve fishing industries into sustainable businesses, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will provide commercial fisheries with access to updated vessels and equipment, increasing efficiency and minimizing cost. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will also provide beneficial services to commercial fisheries, such as stock assessments and marine surveys.[4] On 5 October 2018, a judge ruled that the Monument complied with the law.[8]

Geography and geology

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is located within the New England and mid-Atlantic regions, 130 miles southeast of Cape Cod.[1] It comprises a total area of 4,913 square miles,[1] and protects several underwater seamounts (Bear, Mytilus, Physalia, and Retriever Seamounts) and three submarine canyons in the edge of the continental shelf (Oceanographer, Lydonia, and Gilbert).[9]

Biology and ecology

The area is home to rare and endangered species, including sperm whales, fin whales, sei whales and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.[10]

See also

New England Seamounts

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument". Federal Register. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  2. ↑ Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (PDF). The Pew Charitable Trusts. 2016.
  3. ↑ "Obama to Create First Marine National Monument in the Atlantic" NBC News, 15 September 2016, Accessed 16 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "FACT SHEET: President Obama to Continue Global Leadership in Combatting Climate Change and Protecting Our Ocean by Creating the First Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean". obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. September 15, 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument FAQs". greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "Secretaries Pritzker, Jewell Applaud President's Designation of Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument". doi.gov/pressreleases. September 15, 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant Intervenor Applicants' Motion to Intervene" (PDF). earthjustice.org. March 29, 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  8. ↑ thehill.com ('Judge upholds Obama's marine monument']
  9. ↑ "Secretaries Pritzker, Jewell Applaud President's Designation of Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument". U.S. Department of the Interior. September 15, 2016.
  10. ↑ "FACT SHEET: President Obama to Continue Global Leadership in Combatting Climate Change and Protecting Our Ocean by Creating the First Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean" (Press release). WhiteHouse.gov. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.

Coordinates: 39°42′13″N 67°10′11″W / 39.70361°N 67.16972°W / 39.70361; -67.16972

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