NOAA Announces Eastern Lake Ontario as 16th National Marine Sanctuary
NOAA Unveils Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary
In 2017, Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego and Jefferson counties and the city of Oswego began the application process to have the area designated as a marine sanctuary based on the cultural and historic significance of its waters.
In April 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced its intent to designate a new national marine sanctuary in the Great Lakes in recognition of its historical, cultural and archeological resources. Under this designation, the agency will manage, research, interpret and improve public access to a nationally significant collection of maritime heritage resources including historic shipwrecks.
With input from the public, stakeholders and New York State, the agency published a draft environmental impact statement, draft management plan and proposed rule to move forward with the designation process.
Designated in 2024, the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is only the 16th marine sanctuary in the United States and the third in the Great Lakes, providing an international stage for promoting education, research, tourism and recreation.
Map of designated Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary boundaries.
The sanctuary boundary on eastern Lake Ontario includes 41 known shipwrecks and one known submerged aircraft, representing more than 200 years of maritime history. Historical records indicate that another 19 shipwrecks, three submerged aircrafts and multiple archeological sites could potentially be located within the proposed sanctuary boundary as well.
The area is also the site of portions of the original homelands of the Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Oneida nations, as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy lived along Lake Ontario more than 1,000 years ago.
Maritime enthusiasts, scuba divers, educators and researchers are welcome to visit Oswego County, New York and check out the exciting new opportunities the marine sanctuary brings to the area.
In addition to diving opportunities, Lake Ontario is also home to superb fishing. Get a Lake Ontario fishing report, courtesy of Oswego County Tourism, at our fishing report, or by calling the Fish & Fun Line at 1-800-248-4FUN (4386).
Learn more at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-ontario/.