Happy National Marine Sanctuary Day! 🌊🎉

Today, we celebrate our protected waters throughout the U.S., including the ocean and the Great Lakes.

We have even more to sea-lebrate this year as we look forward to the official designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary on California’s Central Coast. 

Once final, 4,500 square miles of coastal waters from Morro Bay to the Channel Islands will receive important protections to help safeguard its ecological, historical, and cultural ocean resources. It will become California’s fifth national marine sanctuary, joining Monterey Bay, Cordell Bank, Greater Farallones, and Channel Islands national marine sanctuaries.

Learn more about this historic designation.

📸 Photo courtesy of @noaasanctuaries