WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following statement was issued by Michael LeVine, Senior Arctic Fellow at Ocean Conservancy, in recognition of Alaĝum Kanuux̂ being added to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Inventory of Successful Nominations: 

 “This World Ocean Day, we congratulate the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island on the addition of Alaĝum Kanuux̂ (Heart of the Ocean) to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Inventory of Successful Nominations. This important next step advances the vision for a co-managed marine area that provides for shared conservation priorities and sustainable economic opportunities.  

“The Pribilof Islands and surrounding waters are one of the most unique and important places on Earth. The region is home to more than half of the world’s population of northern fur seals, provides summer habitat for more than three million seabirds, and supports some of the world’s largest and most profitable commercial fisheries. Unangax̂ on the Pribilof Islands have been, and remain, inextricably interconnected with the ocean and these marine resources they have stewarded for millenia. 

“The federal government’s recognition of these values and the commitment to an inclusive, public process for designation of Alaĝum Kanuux̂ are warranted and can serve as a model for implementation of the Biden-Harris Administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative. 

“Ocean Conservancy is proud to support Aleut Community of St. Paul Island’s Pribilof Islands Marine Ecosystem (PRIME) Initiative. Designation of a National Marine Sanctuary can be an important step toward a Tribal-led, community-centered, comprehensive management system. We look forward to participating in the designation process alongside Tribal, community, industry, NGO, and other partners.”  

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Michael LeVine is available for interviews upon request. 

NOTES TO EDITOR  

•  The Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (ACSPI) is the federally recognized tribe for St. Paul Island. Information and supporting materials related to the PRIME Initiative are available at www.aleut.com/prime.  
• Acceptance onto the Inventory is the final step in the national marine sanctuary nomination process, prior to designation. Next steps in the process include extensive public processes, including the gathering of input from residents, stakeholders, and others, as well as a full environmental review. More information about sanctuaries and the ONMS process can be found here: https://nominate.noaa.gov/nominations/.  

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