Res. No. 1348

Resolution nominating Hudson Canyon to be considered for a National Marine Sanctuary, and calling upon the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration to designate Hudson Canyon a National Marine Sanctuary

By Council Members Constantinides and Salamanca

Whereas, Hudson Canyon is a submarine canyon which starts at the mouth of the Hudson River, approximately 100 miles offshore, southeast of New York City, and extends 400 miles into the Atlantic Ocean, reaching depths of up to 10,500 feet; and

Whereas, Hudson Canyon is the largest known underwater canyon off of the Atlantic Coast of the United States and it supports a vast ecological system, abundant wildlife and great biodiversity; and

Whereas, The Hudson Canyon contains many species including deep sea corals, fish, seabirds and marine mammals, and nutrient-rich waters that sustain large populations of plankton which serve as part of the base of the region’s food chain; and

Whereas, The waters of the Hudson Canyon support a world-class metropolitan region, evidence a significant maritime history and provide productive fishing areas; and

Whereas, The Hudson Canyon supports the City’s economy by providing habitat for fish that local commercial and recreational fisheries depend upon, and the yearly migration of whales and seabirds through the area attracts whale-watchers, birders and tourists, further supporting the local economy; and

Whereas, The 1972 Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act authorizes the United States Department of Commerce (Department of Commerce) to designate discrete areas of the marine environment as National Marine Sanctuaries in order to provide comprehensive management of their special resources; and

Whereas, A National Marine Sanctuary is a federally designated area within United States waters that protects marine environments that have special conservation, ecological, historical, recreational, cultural, scientific or aesthetic qualities; and 

Whereas, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a federal agency within the Department of Commerce, administers the National Marine Sanctuary System which presently consists of 13 protected National Marine Sanctuary areas, encompassing over 783,000 square miles, from the Atlantic Coast to the Florida Keys; and

Whereas, The primary objective of the National Marine Sanctuary System is to protect the natural and cultural features of these extraordinary marine areas while still allowing people to use and enjoy these areas in a sustainable manner; and

Whereas, National Marine Sanctuaries are subject to regulations on the activities that are permitted or prohibited in these special areas; and

Whereas, For the first time in decades, NOAA has invited communities across the country to nominate marine areas for consideration as National Marine Sanctuaries; and

Whereas, As nominations are submitted, NOAA will review each one in steps, and nominations that pass review will be added to the inventory of areas that NOAA may consider for designation as National Marine Sanctuaries; and

Whereas, The New York Aquarium, The Wildlife Conservation Society and others have nominated and are building support to nominate Hudson Canyon for designation as a National Marine Sanctuary; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York nominates Hudson Canyon for consideration as a National Marine Sanctuary, and calls upon the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration to designate Hudson Canyon a National Marine Sanctuary.

WM

LS 8892

12/9/2016 2:13 PM