Opinion: It’s time to protect the Heart of the Ocean, Alaĝum Kanuux̂

Alaska boasts more than 57 million acres of federal wilderness and the state park system adds another 3 million rustic acres of land and water. These areas provide pastoral wonderlands for one of the most diverse and unique animal populations in the world. It is a really special place. While the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge protects some fish, seabirds and marine mammals, correcting one oversight could vastly improve — and maybe even save — the lives of a much wider array of species that dwell in and around Alaska’s frigid waters. It’s time for the Biden administration to designate Alaĝum Kanuux̂, the “Heart of the Ocean,” as the first national marine sanctuary off the Alaska coast.