Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

From Washington state to the Gulf of America and from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Islands, the National Marine Sanctuary System protects 18 underwater parks spanning over 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. By investing in innovative solutions, we strengthen these iconic places to address 21st-century challenges while supporting America's commerce and tourism. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation’s iconic ocean and Great Lakes waters. A healthy ocean is the basis for thriving recreation, [tourism](https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/visit/), and commercial activities that drive coastal economies. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries also leads the [National Marine Protected Areas Center](https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/marine-protected-areas/), the nation's hub for building innovative partnerships and tools to protect our special ocean. Staff at your national marine sanctuaries are hard at work every day collaborating with partners on conservation initiatives, research and monitoring projects, education and outreach, community engagement, responsible recreation and tourism, cooperative resource management, and socioeconomic considerations. Explore the pages below to learn more about what we do and how we do it.