US (2023)-Marine Life Sanctuaries- Shark, Whale, etc.- 16v sheet

From an abundance of fish off the coast of Georgia to the dazzling coral displays in
American Samoa and the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. national marine sanctuaries and marine
national monuments have protected areas with special ecological, cultural, and historical
significance for 50 years.
The 16 stamps on the National Marine Sanctuaries pane showcase the abundant wildlife
and diverse ecosystems that can be found throughout the National Marine Sanctuary
System.

Supporting some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, U.S. national marine
sanctuaries and marine national monuments preserve habitats that are especially vital for
the survival of threatened and endangered species and safeguard important breeding and
feeding grounds. They also help preserve significant aspects of the nation’s maritime
history and celebrate the ancient sites, cultural artifacts, and living traditions of the
Indigenous peoples who have inhabited these regions for millennia.

The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, which established a framework for
designating national marine sanctuaries, was signed into law on October 23, 1972. Today,
the National Marine Sanctuary System is managed by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. Encompassing more than 620,000 square miles, the sanctuary
system currently comprises 15 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national
monuments, stretching from the North Atlantic to the South Pacific, and from the Florida
Keys to the Pacific Northwest.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the pane using existing photographs. A map of the
National Marine Sanctuary System illustrated by Todd M. Detwiler is printed on the pane's back.