Eastern Lake Ontario given marine sanctuary status

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – The Eastern part of Lake Ontario has been designated with national marine sanctuary status.

Earlier in the week, a 1,722-square-mile area in eastern Lake Ontario as America’s 16th national marine sanctuary. Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary 一adjacent to Jefferson, Oswego, Cayuga and Wayne counties 一 will celebrate the region’s maritime cultural history and provide new opportunities for research, education, recreation and maritime heritage-related tourism in local coastal communities and the broader Great Lakes region.

A number of shipwrecks and downed aircraft are in the sanctuary area.

The designation of the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary will ensure long-term protection and proper management of our historic shipwrecks and maritime heritage sites in eastern Lake Ontario, off the coast of Oswego, Jefferson, Cayuga, and Wayne counties. This important designation will not only safeguard these valuable historic sites but also promote educational opportunities and support tourism in our community. The community is eager to have the necessary resources to protect these sites and continue educating future generations about our region’s rich maritime history.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

NOAA and its local and state partners will host a community celebration for the new sanctuary at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6. The event will take place at William S. Cahill Pier on 39 Lake Street in Oswego.

Governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature will review the designation and it will take effect once its approved.

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