An effort to preserve shoreline history took a step further on Tuesday. According to a press release, Governor Tony Evers announced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will publish a final rule for the designation of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. It is expected to take effect after a review by the governor and Congress over a 45-day period. 

The sanctuary proposal extends from part of Kewaunee County onto Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Ozaukee counties. It would span 962 square miles and designate 36 historically significant shipwrecks as protected. According to Evers the sanctuary would be just the second of its kind in the country and will build upon Wisconsin’s legacy of maritime trade and navigation, highlighting unique and vibrant coastal communities. 

While the Kewaunee County Board has not supported the sanctuary, the city of Algoma has. City Administrator Jared Heyn says the discussion was in motion before he started his tenure in February of 2020. Heyn doesn’t foresee any business impact, but from what he can recall much of their support has to do with ship preservation. 

The sanctuary, if approved, will be co-managed by the state of Wisconsin.