DeLauro Applauds President Obama for Naming the New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts as the Atlantic’s First Marine National Monument

WASHINGTON, DC (September 15, 2016) — CongresswomanRosa DeLauro (CT-03) today commended President Obama for naming the New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts as the nation's first marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean. The designation follows a letter DeLauro and the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation sent in August in which the Members urged the President to take action to preserve and protect the unique environmental treasure.

"The President naming the New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts as the Atlantic Ocean's first marine national monument is wonderful news for the State of Connecticut, the environment, and future generations. This historic designation will ensure that we preserve and protect an ecologically significant area far beneath the ocean waves," said DeLauro. "President Obama has made protecting historic and environmentally significant sites a priority during his administration, and I am thrilled that he has extended his work to include this environmental treasure off of our coast."

The New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts lies about 150 miles off the coast of New England along the continental shelf, and is an area of immense natural diversity. The area is home to at least 73 different species of deep sea coral, countless sharks, whales, dolphins, sea turtles and sea birds. The undersea canyons rival the Grand Canyon in size and scale, and the underwater mountains are higher than any east of the Rockies—as high as 7,700 feet from the ocean floor.