Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Public Input Sought

Deepwater Coral

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries recently announced that the agency will seek public input, the first step in the process to potentially designate a new national marine sanctuary off the coast of New York and New Jersey.

Stakeholders include recreational and commercial fishermen, researchers, and others.

The public can comment on the proposed Hudson Canyon sanctuary designation until August 8, 2022, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov. The docket number is NOAA-NOS-2022-0053.

In addition, NOAA will host public meetings during which members of the public can offer oral comments.

A detailed description of the proposed sanctuary, additional information about opportunities to provide comment, and information about the public meetings can be found at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/hudson-canyon/.

Hudson Canyon is the largest submarine canyon along the U.S. Atlantic coast and is one of the largest in the world.

Beginning approximately 100 miles southeast of New York City, Hudson Canyon extends about 350 miles seaward, reaches depths of 2 to 2.5 miles, and is up to 7.5 miles wide.

Hudson Canyon's diverse structure includes steep slopes, firm outcrops, diverse sediments, flux of nutrients, and areas of upwelling.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Hudson Canyon is an ecological hotspot for a variety of marine wildlife. The deepwater canyon is home to numerous fish species including sharks, tuna, billfish, swordfish, blackbelly rosefish, tilefish, flounder, hakes, pollock, monkfish, and black sea bass. Invertebrates include red crabs, lobsters, and squids.

Some species live only in shallower depths on the shelf while others live deep in the canyon, which starts about 100 miles southeast of New York City on the continental shelf and runs some 300 miles into very deep water.

Several NGOs have endorsed the designation. The Wildlife Conservation Society submitted a nomination for a Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary in November 2016, noting that the area provides a wide range of benefits to New York and New Jersey residents such as clean air, fresh water, recreation, and food.

In June, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation released a statement commending the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for initiating the designation process of Hudson Canyon, off the coast of New York City, to become a new national marine sanctuary.

Related Information

Hudson Canyon Marine Life

Delaware Bay Atlantic Sturgeon Research

Recently, biologists from New Jersey's DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife deployed acoustic receivers in the Delaware Bay to track migration patterns of Atlantic sturgeon. Most of the 7 receivers were set in areas that are less than 20 feet deep. Anglers fishing in inshore waters may encounter the white buoys marked "NJDEP Research".

As part of a multi-state collaborative effort, the Division has partnered with several states to develop a multi-year effort directed at providing state, federal, and regional management authorities with information necessary to successfully conserve and restore Atlantic sturgeon populations. Mid Atlantic populations of the species were among several regional populations that recently received listings as endangered or threatened.

As part of a coastwide project, NJDEP will purchase, assemble, deploy and maintain 18 receivers in the Delaware Bay. Data will be downloaded monthly from each receiver to detect movement of Atlantic sturgeon tagged with acoustic telemetry tags. The new receivers will complement the existing receiver array within Delaware Bay, specifically on the NJ side, to ensure complete coverage of the sampling area. The additional coverage will allow for greater detection of Atlantic sturgeon and provide the ability to monitor immigration and emigration from the Delaware Bay. An additional 11 receivers are expected to be deployed during 2012.

For exact receiver coordinates or for more information about the project contact Heather Corbett at 609-748-2020.

source: NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife