Washington, D.C. — The United States can move closer to its goal of protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 by approving five new Indigenous-led marine sanctuaries, according to a new report from the Center for American Progress.
The report focuses on five sites with various levels of Indigenous leadership and engagement that have already been placed into consideration for possible designation as national marine sanctuaries. These areas have the potential to advance not only the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful initiative but also the environmental justice priorities underscored in the Inflation Reduction Act. They would be some of the first national marine sanctuaries to be led and potentially co-managed by Indigenous communities.
These sites include:
- Alaĝum Kanuux̂ National Marine Sanctuary
- Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
- Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Sanctuary
- Mariana Trench National Marine Sanctuary
- Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary
The report also urges the Biden administration to take the following steps to center Indigenous voices in the designation for new national marine sanctuaries:
- Begin, advance, and complete designation for all five proposed sanctuaries in consultation with local communities.
- Engage with Indigenous communities and explore co-management opportunities.
- Provide adequate funds to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
- Establish a pre-designation advisory council that would eventually form the official sanctuary advisory council after designation.
- Establish protocols for Indigenous naming practices.
Read the report: “Proposed National Marine Sanctuaries Provide a Pathway Toward Indigenous-Led Ocean Conservation” by Anuka Upadhye, Zainab Mirza, and Angelo Villagomez
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].