Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument Protections Restored!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Friday, October 8, 2021
Press Contact: 
Karyn Bigelow, karyn@creationjustice.org; 
Avery Davis Lamb, avery@creationjustice.org

STATEMENT: The Biden Administration Restores Full Protections to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante 

Today, the Biden Administration restored full protections to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, as well as restored the original boundaries for two Utah areas, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante.

 The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is an incredible piece of God’s creation that was designated as a national monument in 2016 under the Obama Administration. It was the first fully protected marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean until the summer of 2020. The monument was stripped of some protections, leaving it open to commercial fishing and other activities that could be detrimental to the creatures that live within the bounds of the monument as well as the unique and irreplaceable sea floor. Today, we rejoice and give thanks to the Biden Administration for this decision. 

This monument is not only an important haven for biodiversity, but it also gets us one step closer to achieving our national goal of protecting 30% of our public lands and waters by the year 2030.   We have had the pleasure of working with the Creation Justice community as well as several other organizations to bring awareness to this important part of God’s Creation.  While we have several national monuments dedicated in the Pacific Ocean, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is the only national monument in the Atlantic Ocean.  .  

Our Co-Executive Directors, Karyn Bigelow and Avery Davis Lamb, share the joint statement: "The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a modern-day Noah’s Ark. This beautiful, majestic space is home to many creatures such as dolphins, whales, and an incredible sea floor.  Every inch of this ecosystem was created in detail and it is our job to keep this place protected. Just as we've been afforded the opportunity to witness this majestic place at the hands of God, we want to ensure it is sustained for the generations after us to enjoy. Protecting the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts will help us to continue safeguarding our coastlines as well.  These protections go hand in hand with efforts to cultivate climate resilience efforts all along the east coast. Today, we thank President Biden for restoring protections to this special place.” We give thanks to the Biden Administration and the Department of Interior for restoring protections and taking the health of God’s ocean seriously.

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Creation Justice Ministries represents the creation care policies of 38 Christian communions, including Baptists, mainline Protestants, Historically Black Churches, Peace Churches, and Orthodox communions. Learn more at www.creationjustice.org

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