Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Moves Forward | On The Water

NEW YORK — A proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary is closer to becoming a reality and you can help.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is establishing an advisory council for the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary and is seeking applications for advisory council seats.

Earlier this year, 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.

SEE ALSO:

• On The Water: Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary
• On The Water: 'Strong Currents' Advance Hudson Canyon Protections

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 location is a key 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.

Under the National Marine Sanctuary designation, the Hudson Canyon would receive increased funding for environmental protection for the ecologically rich stretch of biosphere in New York ocean waters. The area would be permanently closed to oil, gas and mineral exploration. Sanctuary designation will, however, allow for tapping into offshore wind energy sources in an ecologically responsible manner that won’t cause harm to the state’s oceanic ecosphere.

The advisory council that NOAA is establishing for the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary will provide NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries with advice and recommendations on the management of the sanctuary. Council members will also act as liaisons to their communities, building a strong connection between the sanctuary and stakeholders.

The proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will include 15 voting members and 15 alternates representing a variety of community interests. The sanctuary is seeking applicants for the following seats:

• Commercial Fishing (2 seats)
• Recreational Fishing (2 seats)
• Tourism/Recreation (1 seat)
• Conservation (2 seats)
• Science/Research (1 seat)
• Business and Economic Development (1 seat)
• Marine Industry (2 seats)
• Education/Outreach (2 seats)
• Citizen At-Large (2 seats)

Council members will be appointed for a term of three years, and may compete for reappointment.

Applicants do not necessarily need prior first-hand experience within the sanctuary, but they should be very familiar with their constituents' regional interests and how they relate to, or benefit, the management of the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA said in the call for participants. Anyone with the desire and ability to effectively represent their respective community’s interest in the management of the sanctuary is encouraged to apply, regardless of the applicant's geographic location within the region, officials said.

The application deadline is Jan. 31. Applications not received or postmarked by this date will not be considered. For more information, visit the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council recruitment webpage, or contact LeAnn Hogan (email) or Ellen Brody (email).

Find out more about the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary here.