National marine sanctuary effort dropped

A Bering Sea tribal government is backing off its proposal for a national marine sanctuary in the area of St. Paul Island.

The Aleut Community of St. Paul Island in late 2021 nominated what it called Heart of the Ocean for consideration as a national marine sanctuary. The nomination has been pending with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

However, the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government has "decided not to pursue" designation of Heart of the Ocean as a national marine sanctuary, according to a brief notice online.

The notice doesn't elaborate further.

But a recent International Pacific Halibut Commission report says the tribal government, in dropping the marine sanctuary effort, instead has "signed an agreement with the federal government focused on Indigenous-led conservation in waters surrounding the Bering Sea island."