Fair Winds, Following Seas for Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary

NEW YORK — Federal protections for a key marine habitat and resource are closer than ever to becoming a reality.

In June, NOAA announced it was launching the designation process to name the Hudson Canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary would be the first National Marine Sanctuary designation in deep waters off the Mid-Atlantic Coast.

The Hudson Canyon is located offshore about 100 miles southeast of the Statue of Liberty. The undersea geographic formation is the largest canyon off the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. and one of the largest submarine canyons in the world.

The Hudson Canyon is an essential habitat for hundreds of species. The proposed sanctuary would encompass an ecologically rich area near one of North America's most populated coastlines and in the process, protect deep sea coral, marine mammals, fish, marine turtles and seabirds, as well as other species essential to fisheries like squid, crab and tuna.

"The marine waters off the coast of New York and New Jersey sustain a world-class metropolitan region, a rich maritime history, highly productive fisheries and a rich diversity of marine life, thus deserving recognition and protection as a national treasure," New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, wrote calling on NOAA to protect the the Hudson Canyon in the New York Bight as a National Marine Sanctuary. "An NMS off our coast will provide a special place for use and enjoyment today, while securing an ecological legacy for generations to come. I encourage you to consider initiating the public process for designation of Hudson Canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary. This is a once in a generation opportunity for NOAA to deepen the connection of 20 million New Yorkers to our treasured ocean resources."

Now, NOAA has named the Advisory Council members and alternates for the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary.

The council will provide the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries with advice and recommendations to guide NOAA during the designation process for the proposed sanctuary. Council members also serve as liaisons to their communities, building a strong connection between the sanctuary and stakeholders.

The council includes 15 voting members and 15 alternates representing a variety of community interests. Citizens appointed by NOAA to serve on the Sanctuary Advisory Council are:

• Commercial Fishing:
• Meghan Lapp, Greg DiDomenico (members)
• Patrick Knapp, Andrew Minkiewicz (alternates)
• Recreational Fishing:
• Alan Lee, John Depersenaire (members)
• Deane Lambros, Will Poston (alternates)
• Tourism/Recreation:
• Kiera Maloney (member)
• Rob Nixon (alternate)
• Conservation:
• Noah Chesnin, Carl LoBue (members)
• Judith Weis, Peter Chaibongsai (alternates)
• Science/Research:
• Dr. Mercer Brugler (member)
• Dr. Walter Golet (alternate)
• Business and Economic Development:
• Cortney Koenig Worrall (member)
• Rick Weber (alternate)
• Marine Industry:
• Stephen Lyman, John Dempsey (members)
• Rik van Hemmen, Ron Rapp (alternates)
• Education/Outreach:
• Lisa Breslof, Chrissy Word (members)
• Chris Lido, Jim Kent (alternates)
• Citizen at Large:
• Paul Collier, Raymond Fusco (members)
• Brynn Heller, Marty Scanlon (alternates)

The council also includes the following non-voting governmental members:

U.S. Department of Interior/Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Navy; NOAA Fisheries; New England Fishery Management Council; Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; State of Rhode Island; State of New York; and State of New Jersey.

The Hudson Canyon Advisory Council will hold its first meeting sometime this summer and it will likely be virtual. Prior to that meeting, council members and alternates will receive additional background information about national marine sanctuaries and advisory councils.

For more information about the Advisory Council and upcoming meetings, please visit the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council webpage or contact LeAnn Hogan (LeAnn.Hogan@noaa.gov) or Ellen Brody (Ellen.Brody@noaa.gov).