National Marine Protected Area Center

Acadia National Park. Photo courtesy of Department of Interior
Assateague Island National Seashore. Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of Claire Fackler, NOAA
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stock
Dry Tortugas National Park. Photo courtesy of Department of Interior
Fort Pulaski National Monument. Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Photo courtesy of Janene Driscoll
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Photo courtesy of Grand Bay NERR
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of Claire Fackler, NOAA
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Olympic National Park. Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of Ari Friedlaender, Duke University

Our nation's MPAs are places where people can enjoy recreational activities from swimming to fishing to scuba diving.

MPAs are special places that protect coastal and marine resources. These resources - like fish, wildlife, big waves, beautiful beaches and clean water - also make them great places for recreation. MPAs provide an opportunity for us to connect with the great outdoors, and they generate billions of dollars to help support coastal communities.

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Recreation in Marine Protected Areas

Our nation's MPAs are places where people can enjoy recreational activities from swimming to fishing to scuba diving.

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