A SAFE SPACE BY SAMANTHA MCCOY
T
he ocean is undoubtedly one of our planet’s greatest treasures, our life-support system, our blue lungs. Destructive practices like overfishing, pollution and coastal development, however, continue to deplete marine ecosystems, threatening the sea’s continued ability to provide those essential resources. To protect these critical habitats, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary system has preserved some of the most amazing and endangered resources in our oceans for more than 40 years. These marine sanctuaries not only provide secure habitats for species that would be threatened in unprotected waters, they also protect the natural topography of the environment while serving as recreational places for people to enjoy the ocean in a safe way. Each sanctuary strictly enforces regulations regarding which activities are allowed and which are not, and many utilize specific initiatives to educate visitors about appropriate behaviors while in the marine environment. These regulations are designed to ensure that the sanctuary thrives to its fullest extent. “If these areas are not protected, they will be vulnerable and utilized for other purposes,” says Jay Bradley, curator at the National Aquarium. “Protected places are important—marine sanctuaries, national parks, marine reserves, whatever they might be—because they afford those areas security.”
20 WATERMARKS | WINTER 2013