On May 25, 2010, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service published Federal Register notice that 29 sites have been added to the list of National System of Marine Protected Areas.  NMFS also responded to public comment on the adding the new sites and on the National System in general.

NMFS’ Federal register notice explains that

The national system of MPAs is made up of member MPA sites,  networks and systems established and managed by federal, state, commonwealth, territorial, tribal and/or local governments that collectively enhance conservation of the nation’s natural and cultural  marine heritage and represent its diverse ecosystems and resources. Although participating sites continue to be managed independently,  national system MPAs also work together at the regional and national levels to achieve common objectives for conserving the nation’s  important natural and cultural resources, with emphasis on achieving  the priority conservation objectives of the Framework. MPAs include sites with a wide range of protection, from multiple use areas to no take reserves where all extractive uses are prohibited. The term MPA refers only to the marine portion of a site (below the mean high tide mark) that may include both terrestrial and marine components.

The national system is a mechanism to foster greater collaboration among participating MPA sites and programs in order to enhance stewardship in the waters of the United States.

The first 225 sites were added to the National System during a process that ended in April 2009.  NMFS solicited public comment on adding another 32 sites in January 2010.  Two of those additional sites, Acadia National Park and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, have requested additional time to consult with stakeholders and tribal governments.  Another site, the Queen Anne’s Revenge Shipwreck site, has withdrawn from the nomination process. 

The 29 new sites added to the National System are:

National Parks

Buck Island Reef National Monument

Cabrillo National Monument

Canaveral National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Fire Island National Seashore

Gateway National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Kalaupapa National Historical Park

Kaloko-Honokahau National Historical Park

National Park of American Samoa

Olympic National Park

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve

San Juan Islands National Historical Park

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 

National Wildlife Refuges

 Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge

Tybee National Wildlife Refuge

Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge

Wolf National Wildlife Refuge

 Partnership Marine Protected Areas

 Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Puerto Rico)

 State Marine Protected Areas

 Virgin Islands

East End Marine Park

 Washington

San Juan County/Cypress Island Marine Biological Preserve

NMFS received over 100 comments on the proposed additions. According to NMFS’ response to comments, 

Most comments expressed concerns that the inclusion of a site in the national system will limit access to an area, and in particular will impose additional restrictions on recreational fishing or boating, commercial fishing or coastal industry. Several other comments expressed concern that the inclusion of a site in the national system would adversely affect the economic or cultural well being of local communities.

 Response:

As noted above, the purpose of the national system is to coordinateMPA agencies to support the conservation and management of marine resources. It is not intended to, nor does it have the authority to, impose new restrictions on access or use. Under Executive Order 13158, ‘this national system framework and the work of the MPA Center is intended to support, not interfere with, agencies’ independent exercise of their own existing authorities.’

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The inclusion of an MPA into the national system in no way ‘federalizes’ any state or local areas included within the system.  Further, the inclusion of a site in the national system of MPAs will have no adverse impact on the economic or cultural aspects of a specific locale.

 NMFS’ Federal Register notice announcing the additional sites and responding to public comment is available online at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-12452.htm .