Urgent: Support the Atlantic Ocean's First Marine National Monument!

The Grand Canyons, Sea Mountains, and Cashes Ledge are spectacular national treasures off New England's coast.

These precious ecosystems provide refuge for hundreds of species of rare and unique marine wildlife including whales, seabirds and long-living cold water corals. These remote areas are also critical to the health of our ocean fish, which are the lifeblood of Atlantic coastal communities.

But now, as the deep ocean has become more accessible, these fragile places are under growing threat of destruction from overfishing and industrial exploitation. 

Fortunately, the Obama Administration has the power to permanently protect these seascapes for generations to come by designating them a national monument. But we only have until September 15 — the deadline for public comments — to make our voices heard.

Now is the most crucial time ever to protect New England's Grand Canyons, Sea Mountains and Cashes Ledge — and we need your help!

Sign the petition and together we'll make history. Tell the Obama Administration that you support the creation of the first Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean!
Subject: Please Establish a Marine Monument off New England

Dear President Obama, Secretary Pritzker, and Under Secretary Sullivan,

Please take action to protect New England's canyons (Oceanographer, Gilbert, Lydonia, Nygren, and Heezen), seamounts (Bear, Physalia, Mytilus, and Retriever), and the Cashes Ledge Closed Area as a national monument. These unique undersea treasures would become the first ocean monument in the Atlantic and would build on America's global leadership in ocean protection.

This historic monument designation will permanently protect a treasure trove of unique and irreplaceable ecosystems which provide refuge for hundreds of species of marine wildlife including whales, seabirds and long-living cold water corals. These places are also critical habitat for ocean fish like Atlantic cod, which are the life blood of coastal communities and New England's rich culture and traditions.

New England's remote ocean wilderness refuges, with their rich biodiversity and largely unexplored beauty, will be lost forever unless they are fully protected now. Hundreds of leading scientists agree that keeping these places free from activities that extract resources or harm habitat is critical to reverse the decline of the marine environment and restore it to health. Research shows that fully protected marine reserves are essential to rebuilding species abundance and diversity, and increasing resilience to climate change.

Our ocean treasures — especially amazing places such as the New England's Grand Canyons, Sea Mountains, and Cashes Ledge — are important to all Americans. As the nation with the largest exclusive economic zone in the world, the United States has a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to be a global leader in protecting our oceans. We need to save these important places off New England coasts so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy a healthy marine environment, before irreparable damage is done. A national monument designation would protect these seascapes for generations to come.

[Your Comment]

Please protect the New England Canyons and Cashes Ledge as a national monument today.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.