Res. No. 482
Resolution in support of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium’s proposal to have Hudson Canyon, the largest submarine canyon on the Atlantic coast of the United States, declared a national marine sanctuary
By Council Members Zhuang, Epstein, Louis and Hanif
Whereas, Hudson Canyon (“the canyon”) is a submarine canyon located approximately 100 miles southeast of New York City, which extends approximately 350 miles seaward, reaches depths up to 2.5 miles, and at up to 7.5 miles wide, is comparable to the Grand Canyon in scale; and
Whereas, The largest canyon along the Atlantic Coast of the United States, and one of the largest submarine canyons in the world, Hudson Canyon is an extremely biodiverse habitat that hosts a variety of endangered, protected, and ecologically sensitive species; and
Whereas, The complex geography of the canyon, which includes steep slopes, rocky outcrops, sediment beds, and upwelling currents that transport nutrients from deeper waters, provide a wide variety of habitat types and available resources, resulting in high biological productivity that draws in a diverse range of species into the area in great abundance; and
Whereas, The canyon is home to deep sea coral reefs, comprised of slow growing coral colonies that may be over 1,000 years old, that are extremely vulnerable to environmental degradation and damage from fishing and trawling methods that destroy the sea bed; and
Whereas, Hundreds of species have been observed in the canyon, including over 200 species of fish, over 100 species of invertebrates, 17 species of marine mammal, 4 species of sea turtle, and 20 species of sea birds, including federally protected species such as sperm whales and leatherback turtles, which are classified as endangered, and bottlenose dolphins, and loggerhead turtles, which are classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act; and
Whereas, 50 federally managed species of fish and invertebrates depend on the canyon for some part of their life cycle, and the area is considered an essential habitat for species like Atlantic bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, dusky sharks, basking sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, marlin, albacore, black seabass, summer flounder, scallops, and longfin squid, making the canyon one of the most commercially valuable fisheries on the east coast; and
Whereas, The canyon is the most popular location in the Mid-Atlantic for deep sea big game recreational fishing, an industry that according to a United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study from 2020, contributes approximately 510 million dollars to the economy annually, and supports approximately 4,500 jobs; and
Whereas, The canyon also supports a robust industry of wildlife cruises for birding, whale watching, and other non-consumptive eco-tourism uses that are dependent on the continued health of the ecosystem to remain viable; and
Whereas, Despite the canyon’s proximity to New York City, one of the world’s largest population centers, popularity with recreational fisherman and eco-tourists, and significant importance to regional fisheries, much more research is still needed to develop a full understanding of the canyon’s importance to the wildlife that rely on it, and how climate change and human uses affect its ecosystem; and
Whereas, Designating the Hudson Canyon a National Marine Sanctuary designation could increase access to federal, state, local, and private investment in science, research, monitoring, and exploration, create a transparent process for science-based management policies that include stakeholders, and provide opportunities for engagement with local educational and cultural institutions; and
Whereas, A National Marine Sanctuary designation would help connect New York City residents with a relatively unknown but ecologically and economically important natural wonder, and assist NOAA in increasing awareness of ocean conservation and sustainable uses of natural resources; and
Whereas, The Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary would encompass an area of approximately 2,900 square miles, in waters ranging from 80 to 8,400 feet in depth; and
Whereas, The Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium’s proposal to have the canyon designated a National Marine Sanctuary recommends that fishing be allowed to continue in the area, as recent proactive measures taken to protect deep water reefs and forage species in the area are believed to have sufficiently addressed threats to these vulnerable resources; and
Whereas, The designation, however, would preclude uses such as oil, gas, and mineral extraction in the sanctuary, as these uses are less consistent with the goals of preserving economically important fisheries and tourism industries that are reliant on a healthy ecosystem; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium’s proposal to have Hudson Canyon, the largest submarine canyon on the Atlantic coast of the United States, declared a national marine sanctuary.
NRC
LS #23520
5/14/26