Marine Sanctuaries

helping to protect aquatic life and climate change

By Kate Hagan, 15 April, 2025

Originally published in Ecoparent

Photo: NOAA

A marine sanctuary is a place to visit unique and wonderful aquatic life. Become acquainted with species you normally would not have access to, and learn why these spaces are so important to the world.

Many of us are familiar with the idea of animal sanctuaries: areas for wild animals to remain wild and free. A few years back I shared with EcoParent my story and experience with dark sky sanctuaries, havens for those who wish to see the night sky without the detrimental effects of light pollution as well as for the flora and fauna that thrive under these conditions. With this love of seeing nature in its true and natural form, it should come as no surprise that I have another sanctuary to cover—the marine sanctuaries of North America.

As a resident of the northwest coast of the United States, I’m completely enamoured with the great Columbia River and the thrashing waves of the Oregon coast. I’ve walked the tide pools of Puget Sound daily and grew up swimming in lakes devoid of motorized watercraft that are filled with fresh rainfall. If the water calls to you as it does to me, you won’t want to miss these attractions on your next trip.