Final plan for Mariana Trench sanctuary released

photo: NASA/Leonello Calvetti/Science Photo

The final management plan and environmental assessment for the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument have been released.

Mariana Trench Monument is The marine protected area was established in 2009 by then-US President George W. Bush..

The Mariana Trench includes underwater active volcanoes and hydrothermal vents and is the deepest point on Earth.

Under the management plan, the U.S. Fish and Service, NOAA Fisheries, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will partner as a monument management team to; conserve and protect the marine ecosystem; and establish stewardship, research, exploration, engagement, and education programs to further understand and connect people to the unique ecosystem and its inhabitants.

Shared learning and outreach activities will focus on providing traditional access and cultural use, developing locally relevant curriculum and educational opportunities about the unique environment of the Mariana Trench and its protected marine life.

The plan lays the foundation for long-term collaborative and community management of the monument, and public and community engagement will be key to achieving the plan’s vision and goals over the next 15 years.

The plan’s development advances the Biden-Harris administration’s America Beautiful plan to restore, connect and protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said it was a remarkable place.

“The incredible diversity of life that exists within the Mariana Trench’s extremely steep and deep marine environment, hydrothermal vents and boiling waters make this marine national monument an inspiring area for us to reflect and marvel at,” she said.

“The Service and our partners at NOAA Fisheries are grateful for the perspectives, knowledge and collaboration of local and Indigenous communities who shape the monument’s management and enhance our shared understanding and appreciation of its cultural and biological resources.”

Located in the Mariana Islands east of the Philippines, the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument protects approximately 95,216 square miles of underwater land and water.

The Mariana Trench features steep walls, unique geological features, and deep-sea life. Mariana snailfish, deep-sea jellyfish, giant amphipods, and translucent sea cucumbers have all found their home in this harsh environment, surrounded by fluffy bacterial mats.

The Marianas Volcanic Arc National Wildlife Refuge/Volcanic Unit — an arc-shaped region of submarine volcanoes and hydrothermal vents — supports unusual life forms under some of the harshest conditions imaginable.

Species here live in hydrothermal vents that produce highly acidic and boiling water. One reef site in the reserve’s archipelago unit has the highest shark density in the Pacific.

Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, said the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument has a long history of ancestral and cultural ties to nearby residents.

“From the beginning of the monument, local Mariana Islands communities and leaders have wanted to be involved in its construction.

“Their involvement has been vital in the development of this management plan and we are committed to working together to protect this amazing place.”

The Final Plan establishes long-term guidelines for achieving the monument’s goals and objectives, which are derived from presidential proclamations, federal authorizations, and public input.

Proclamation No. 8335 of 2009 provides that the monument management plan should ensure that the monument is managed in accordance with the proclamation and should provide for:

• Ensure that indigenous peoples have access to traditional means of culturally significant subsistence, cultural and religious uses; promote scientific exploration and research;
• Provide public education and outreach programs.

Traditional ecological knowledge will be part of the decision-making process and ongoing management of the monument.