Imagine if oil drilling were allowed in the Chesapeake Bay or Assateague Island. It’s unthinkable because the public wouldn’t stand for it. We know that some places are too precious to risk.

Just as the U.S. has national parks on land, there are also protected places in the ocean, including marine national monuments. These unique underwater seascapes are some of our nation’s most essential protected spaces, serving as safe havens for endangered species like turtles and whales and living laboratories for scientific discoveries that improve our daily lives.

Marine monuments have historically been protected from destructive activities because of their unique importance, fragility and enduring value to the American people. By not allowing drilling, mining and industrial fishing within their

See Full Page