Conserve Blake Plateau

Photo Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration

The Blake Plateau, which holds the world's largest deep sea coral reef habitat, sits roughly 80 miles off the southeast coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and parts of Florida. The Blake Plateau is a biodiversity hotspot home to more than 200 species of deep-sea corals. In addition to its immense ecological value, this remarkable area also holds spiritual and cultural significance for the Gullah/Geechee. This area is the ancestral resting place for their enslaved relatives who did not survive crossing the Blake Plateau as part of the Middle Passage. The Blake Plateau is currently unprotected which can make it susceptible to harmful mining practices.

As the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries works to update the Gray’s Reef sanctuary management plan, we have a prime opportunity to expand the sanctuary’s boundaries, offering a more holistic look at the entire ocean system and safeguarding key parts of the nearby Blake Plateau. Surfrider is joined by multiple organizations on this effort, you can learn more and view our coalition partners here!

Campaign Updates

• January 2026:
• The Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council passed a resolution calling on NOAA to evaluate options for enhancing Blake Plateau protection during the sanctuary’s upcoming management plan review process.
• The resolution “recognizes the ecological importance and conservation value” of key areas on the Blake Plateau and “recommends that the protection of deep-water coral ecosystems in the Blake Plateau, by extending sanctuary protections or other measures, be evaluated during the upcoming review and update of the Sanctuary’s Management Plan.”

• November 2026:

• On November 2nd, NOAA initiated review of the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan by publishing a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register. This begins a 45-day public comment period ending on December 17th, 2026.

Take Action Today!

• Make a public comment to the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary RFI on the Federal Register by December 17th, 2026
• Attend a public  meeting to learn more and provide written public comment:
• Nov. 4, 2026 → 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA, 4:00 – 7:30pm
• Nov. 10, 2026 → 310 Okatie Hwy., Okatie, SC, 4:15 – 7:45pm
• Nov. 13, 2026 → 340 MLK Jr. Blvd. Ste A, Savannah, GA, 4:00 – 7:30pm
• Nov. 17, 2026 → Singleton Hall, Allen Ballroom, 103 Tom Trout Drive, Conway, SC, 4:00 – 7:30pm
• Nov. 18, 2026 → 202 Calhoun St, Room 129, Charleston, SC 4:00 – 7:30pm
• What to comment on:

• Ask the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to explore expanding the marine sanctuary boundaries to include important Blake Plateau features because

• The Blake Plateau contains the world' s largest deep-sea coral habitat known as the “Million Mounds” which stretches from Florida to Georgia
• The Blake Plateau has over 200 coral species home to nearly 100 species of fish and floating Sargassum seaweed meadows which provide food and shelter for various marine life
• The Blake Plateau holds cultural importance to the Gullah Geechee communities as the ancestral graveyard for enslaved relatives who did not survive crossing the area during the final leg of the Middle Passage
• The Blake Plateau ecosystems services support billions of dollars contributed to the economy each year from Southeast ocean-related food, jobs, and recreation