The central and western Pacific marine national monuments and national marine sanctuaries encompass over 742,000 square miles of emergent land, coral reef, ocean, and maritime heritage resources. They contain some of the last relatively pristine marine ecosystems on the planet and harbor numerous protected species, as well as undiscovered shipwrecks and cultural landscapes sacred to the indigenous peoples of the Pacific.

Their designation is unprecedented in terms of geographic scope, ecological value, and national symbolism for ocean conservation. However, their remoteness creates substantial challenges. Most deep-water areas remain poorly known and are of high interest to federal and state agencies with research and management responsibilities.

The ‘Campaign to Address Pacific monument Science, Technology, and Ocean NEeds (CAPSTONE)’ is a major multi-year effort focused on exploring these deepwater marine protected areas. The investment provides timely, actionable information to support decision making based on reliable and authoritative science. It also serves as an opportunity for the nation to highlight the uniqueness and importance of these national symbols of ocean conservation.