The Hudson Canyon, a vast Atlantic canyon inhabited by endangered whales, sharks and sea turtles, will become a National Marine Reserve at the suggestion of the Byden administration on Wednesday.
Located about 100 miles southeast of the Goddess of Freedom, the Hudson Canyon is banned from oil and gas drilling to protect marine life, cold-water corals, and some shipwrecks.
Details such as the proposed sanctuary boundaries and prohibited activities other than excavation have not yet been announced. Proposals will be finalized after a public comment period until August 8.
“The sanctuary, near one of the most densely populated areas in the northeastern United States, connects diverse communities throughout the region to seas and canyons in new ways,” said Richard W., administrator of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. .Spinrad says. Said in a statement. He said the sanctuary would leave a “permanent heritage for future generations.”
The Hudson Canyon will be the first national marine reserve off New York and New Jersey, according to the New York Aquarium of the Wildlife Conservation Society, which designated a protected area in 2016.
The Hudson Canyon is partly located in New York Bay, the area where wind farms are planned. Although this designation is not expected to interfere with offshore wind turbines, a NOAA spokeswoman said the government was working with the state to “completely impact the New York Bay and Hudson Canyon areas on offshore wind leasing areas. I understand. “
Biden administration’s environmental agenda
President Biden is pushing for stronger regulation, but faces a narrow path to achieving his goals in the fight against global warming.
The National Ocean Industries Association, which represents oil and gas and offshore wind developers, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Conservation activists described the Hudson Canyon as a fragile and complex marine ecosystem with no permanent extraction of oil, gas and minerals. By establishing a marine protected area, the Hudson Canyon can also serve as a NOAA site for monitoring the impact of climate change on ocean acidification and oxygen depletion vulnerable submarine canyons.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help protect the ocean and connect more than 28 million people in Newyork and New Jersey with our precious marine resources.” John Calveri, Executive Vice President The Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement.
The proposed designation comes because President Biden’s climate and conservation agenda is stagnant in parliament. As a result, the administration has relied on government authorities to set its goals.
The Hudson Canyon, as deep as the Grand Canyon, was created over 10,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Period. It is about 400 nautical miles long and reaches a depth of 10,500 feet.
In addition to the 200 species of fish and 17 species of marine mammals that live there, migratory birds and whales stop by and feed the Hudson Canyon. Among the underwater vessels are cargo ships dating back to the mid-19th century and US military radar platforms.
The government has also announced plans to phase out disposable plastics in national parks and public lands by 2032. In 2011, the Obama administration urged national parks to stop selling disposable plastics, but that policy was reversed by the Trump administration.
In a secretary order on Wednesday, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland also instructed department staff to find biodegradable or compostable alternatives to such products.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs has a duty to play a leading role in reducing the impact of plastic waste on our ecosystem and climate,” Harland said in a statement.