Last week, stakeholders convened at Monmouth University for a one-day meeting to discuss the proposed Hudson Canyon Marine Sanctuary. The Hudson Canyon, located off the New York and New Jersey coast, holds immense ecological and socio-economic importance. The proposed sanctuary boundaries and management have yet to be set and one of the goals of the Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) goals is to help inform NOAA on what makes sense for this region, their ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them.

The SAC has met two previous times virtually over the past year but this was the first in-person meeting. This Advisory Council meeting aimed to discuss the sanctuary designation process, timeline, and the proposed sanctuary management plan. It proved productive by allowing a diverse group of voices to be heard and critical discussions to unfold. The meeting brought together academics, scientists, government officials, commercial fishing interests, recreational anglers, and community members.

TBF’s Peter Chaibongsai, a member of the Sanctuary Advisory Committee, participated in conversations and provided valuable input to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) while focusing on recreational fishing concerns and interests in the region. The recreational fishing representatives echoed how valuable access to the region is to our group. 

Stakeholders described how they would like to see the sanctuary formed, including current uses and needs, possible management measures, and stakeholder engagement strategies. TBF hopes our input from the SAC and continued presence at these meetings will help shape the final sanctuary management plan and reflects our community’s needs and priorities.