An 875 square mile area of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin and 14 square miles of the Potomac River could become the first new National Marine Sanctuaries since 2000, the White House announced Monday morning.
President Obama said in a Monday announcement that portions of Lake Michigan off Wisconsin and the tidal waters of Maryland could become federal marine sanctuaries if they make it through the nomination process. Obama framed the announcement as another step he’s taking to protect the country’s waters, and said similar actions were on the way.
“These actions will protect waters of historic and natural importance,” Obama said in a video announcement. “In the coming months, I will look for opportunities to protect even more of our waters.”
The Lake Michigan area being designated for federal protection contains 39 shipwrecks, 15 of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The protection has been endorsed by state government officials along with business, environment, recreation, conservation, fishing and tourism groups.
The Mallows Bay-Potomac River area is a tidal area that contains more than 200 sunken ships, some of which date to the Revolutionary War. It’s a largely undeveloped area and the White House called it “one of the most ecologically valuable” areas in the state with a large amount of marine and land wildlife.
A public comment period on the decision will open up and lasts until Jan. 15. After the public comment period, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association will draft an environmental impact statement and a management plan, including potential regulations for both sites. The public will then be able to review that and the administration will make a final decision.
Obama also announced new partnerships that aim to combat illegal fishing.
Sea Scout is an new program to work with governments and fishermen around the world against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Secretary of State John Kerry will announce the new program Monday at the Our Ocean conference in Chile.
The goal of Sea Scout is to strengthen enforcement of fisheries laws around the world and to prevent illegal and unregulated fishing.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will also announce new measures to combat illegal fishing, such as the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. That is a space-based sensor that detects lights from boats using lights to attract fish at night.
The sensor will be used in Indonesia, the Philippines and three other countries starting next year, according to the White House.
