The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have published a Federal Register Notice of Intent (NOI) to draft a Monument Management plan. The Service is the lead agency in the developing the Plan, which will guide long-term vision and framework needed to provide proper care for the Monument’s unique ecosystem, marine life, and natural and historical resources, as well as set priorities and goals for management in the future.
The public are invited to submit comments and ideas to guide the management of the Monument through January 27, 2023.
Located 130 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation in 2016, under the Antiquities Act of 1906, to protect and conserve its unique and pristine habitats, historic objects, and features of high scientific interests for current and future generations of America. As the first marine monument in the Atlantic, it is renowned for its rich and unique biodiversity, including deep-sea coral communities and concentrations of marine wildlife.
The planning process will provide opportunities for participation from the public, Tribes, Federal and local government agencies, and other interested parties. The Management Plan will consider the Monument’s potential for research, exploration, conservation, learning, engagement, and more. All prohibited actions under the Presidential Proclamations and the Antiquities Act of 1906 will not be considered for management actions in the Monument Management Plan. More information on the planning process can be found here: https://www.fws.gov/project/monument-management-plan
Additional public input will be announced throughout the planning process. Comments or requests for more information can be submitted by:
- E-mail: ncsmnm_planning@fws.gov
- U.S. Mail: Brittany Petersen, Marine Monument Superintendent, USFWS, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035
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