National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

At the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, we invite people with a stake in the health of their planet to protect their own places in it. National marine sanctuaries and monuments are the essential network of protected waters owned by every American, and championed by us. Connected by currents, they sustain miraculous species, coastal communities, and our shared heritage.​

​At the Foundation, our work extends from the ocean floor to Capitol Hill. We inspire, creating energetic ambassadors for ocean conservation. We connect, working in close partnership with NOAA and in the many communities who depend on and care for the sanctuaries. And we educate, showing the world how the sanctuaries can serve as a model for protecting marine ecosystem  around the world.​

​The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports America’s national marine sanctuaries through our mission to protect species, conserve ecosystems and preserve cultural and maritime heritage. We accomplish our mission through community stewardship and engagement programs, on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs, and scientific research and exploration. The Foundation fosters innovative projects that are solution-oriented, scalable and transferable, and develop strategic partnerships that promote the conservation and recovery of species and their habitats. 

This year, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is celebrating 50 years of ocean and coastal conservation, in particular the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as part of the Save Spectacular campaign. The National Marine Sanctuaries Act authorized Congress to identify, designate, and manage areas of the marine environment which are of special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, educational, cultural, archeological, or aesthetic qualities. As of June 2022, there are 15 national marine sanctuaries and 2 marine national monuments across our ocean, coast, and Great Lakes, that protect more than 620,000 square miles of waters.