Featured Photos
Our planet is an ocean planet: Earth Is Blue. The National Marine Sanctuary System protects some of the most iconic underwater places throughout the United States, but we can't do it without you. No matter where you are, the ocean and Great Lakes are in your hands. We hope these images inspire you to help care for our ocean and to spread the word that Earth isn't green – it's blue.
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Not only does NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary protect upwelling zones, intertidal communities, and deep sea coral (just to name a few), this sanctuary also has a rich historical and cultural legacy! Find out more about this beautiful place.
Photo: Keith C. Flood
Sitting in on a virtual meeting like...
This little fish is called a Garibaldi, found at NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! This fish gets its name from the 19th-century Italian leader of the same name whose famous army wore flashy red/orange colors into battle.
Photo: Keith C. Flood
Just passing through! Did you know mangroves line more than 1,800 miles of shoreline within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary? Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. Many of these forests can be recognized by their dense tangles of prop roots that make these trees look like they are standing on stilts above the water.
Photo: David Ruck/NOAA
Looking for some adventure? Paddleboarding provides a unique, interactive way to experience wrecks around Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Paddle over the wreck of Loretta, to see a steam barge that sunk in 1896!
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Bummed you just missed this humpback breach? Whale aren't you in luck! Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary offers some of the world's best year-round marine mammal sightings. Although some species stop by seasonally, such as grey whales, humpback whales, and blue whales, others can be seen year-round, like minke whales, orca, and a variety of dolphins and porpoises!
Photo: Nicole Capps/NOAA
The waters of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary are filled with life! Home to the largest near-shore "live-bottom" reef of the southeastern United States, divers can see all kinds of creatures from large invertebrates, like sponges and corals, to sharks! Take a virtual dive and see what you can spot!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary is a unique wildlife watching destination at any time! The late summer and fall are the best time of the year to head offshore because of the better sea conditions and diverse seabird and marine mammal viewing opportunities. This attracts birders and whale watchers from around the world, to see species rarely seen so close to shore! Plan your future trip.
Photo: Dru Devlin/NOAA
Alert! There is just one more day to submit your sanctuary photos to our Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! Send us your best photos of the National Marine Sanctuary System and help us celebrate the beauty and importance of these special places.
Winning photos will be featured in next year's Earth Is Blue Magazine and on our Earth Is Blue social media campaign.
Photo: Michael Beattie, 1st Place Sanctuaries View Category 2019
"2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate!"
We consider this pom pom crab to be Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's personal cheerleader! Although they are festive, its pom-poms are actually small anemones that it carries around for defense.
Photo: NOAA
Today is National Wildlife Day and we want to celebrate the amazing biodiversity of your #WildSanctuaries! How many different species can you identify?
Photo: Peter Turcik
On September 3, 2019, NOAA made history by designating Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, the first national marine sanctuary in almost two decades. The sanctuary protects the remnants of 118 World War I-era wooden steamships, collectively known as the Ghost Fleet.
The new sanctuary also protects heritage sites of the Piscataway-Conoy and other Indigenous peoples, as well as remains of historical fishing operations and Revolutionary and Civil War battlescapes. Plan your visit to paddle, fish, watch wildlife, and learn about the culture and history that live in this special place. Join us in wishing our newest sanctuary a happy 1st birthday!
Photo: Peter Turcik
In need of a mid-week tropical escape? Let us take you to the beautiful shores and seas of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! Learn all the ways you can get into this sanctuary and plan your future trip.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Caption this! What do you think this Red Grouper from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is thinking as it swims past the reef?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
What remains of U-85, a German U-boat from WWII's Battle of the Atlantic, can be found 90 feet below the surface near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Lost on April 14, 1942, this vessel is now acting as an artificial reef supporting an ecosystem from small invertebrates to sharks!
Photo: Steve Sellers/NOAA
Did you know that a tufted puffin, like these two spotted in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, can hold around a dozen fish on average in its bill to carry back to its chicks? These skilled divers have no troubles filling up as they use their wings to swim underwater to catch fish!
Photo: Mary Sue Brancato/NOAA
This pink siphonophore is a great example of teamwork at play. While this may appear to be one organism, it is actually comprised of many zooids directly connected to each other by tissue. The interaction between the individual zooids is so strong that, together, they assume the function of a single, larger organism! This is just one example of the fascinating creatures that inhabit Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: NOAA
Have you ever heard a shrill whistling wheep-wheep carrying across the surf of one of your West Coast national marine sanctuaries? Chances are you've heard a black oystercatcher before you've spotted it. Check out these two shorebirds surveying for mussels and other shellfish in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Beach Watch/NOAA
If we were a tiny juvenile fish, the tentacles of a jellyfish in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary would definitely act as a killer hideout! What would you name the color of this jellyfish?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
"That cloud looks just like a fish!" More than just cloud watchers, the red-footed booby breeds and nests on the islands of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Their lack of predators and the protection offered by the monument makes this area one of the safest places for many of these vulnerable seabirds.
Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA
Every August, seven to 10 days after the full moon, the reef-building corals of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary put on a fantastic spawning display! Most scientists agree that these mass spawning events are designed to allow genetic mixing and dispersal of offspring over large distances. Plus, the sheer volume of the events allows for the fertilization and survival of a significant number of larvae despite the best efforts of predators!
Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA
This friend doesn't appear to be giving a seal of approval to Monday arriving...
Guadalupe fur seals, like this one in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, are known to be generally solitary and non-social at sea. After being heavily hunted to near extinction, their population is slowly recovering due to protections throughout their range. Don't worry, buddy, Monday will be over soon!
Photo: Tane Casserly/NOAA
If you're the helm (steering wheel) on a shipwreck, you're not exactly a wheel of fortune. However, this particular wheel is lucky to be so intact. While some wrecks found in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary are in better shape than others, Lake Huron's cold, fresh waters help preserve these invaluable artifacts of nautical history. Have you seen a shipwreck before?
Photo: Tane Casserly/NOAA
Interrupting your feed today with a beautiful coral crest in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary! We hope these colors brighten your Saturday just as they did for us!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is working with Marine Imaging Technologies and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in its 2020 expedition to document and collect samples from the seafloor! With the help of Pixel, a cinema-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the team will continue building 3D photogrammetric models to understand the condition of shipwrecks in the sanctuary and create 360° virtual underwater tours of these unique and historic sites. By collecting samples, Pixel will aid scientists in studying the diversity of marine species, such as anemones and sea stars, that call the sanctuary’s shipwrecks home. You can join in LIVE, August 25th-27th, for this expedition and learn all about this mission and see the seafloor in real-time!
As a leader in ocean science and exploration, WHOI is committed to carrying out its mission while following all relevant local, state, and federal guidelines to ensure the health and safety of its staff and research partners. Telepresence technology is one way that NOAA and its partners are able to continue conducting research in national marine sanctuaries safely. Scientists are able to connect to the vessel from shore while expanding participation in oceanographic research in real-time.
Learn more about the expedition and how to tune in.
Photo: Marine Imaging Technologies/NOAA
Pop quiz: What is the largest terrestrial invertebrate?
This species can grow up to one meter from leg to leg and weigh as much as 30 pounds. Found in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, this creature makes for a tasty treat! Have you guessed it yet? Stay tuned for the answer!
Photo: Wendy Cover/NOAA
What do you know about Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary? Learn how you can become an underwater explorer, and what you can do to protect this special place this Friday, August 21st in a live interaction! Hear from Florida Keys dive experts on their experiences inside the sanctuaries stunning reefs. Learn more and register for the event.
Photo: David Ruck/NOAA
Have you met the star of the tide pool? The organisms living within tide pools are repeatedly covered and abandoned by shifting tides, leaving them to cope with extreme physical, chemical, and biological changes. Sea stars, like this one in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, use tiny tube feet on each arm to grip onto rocks. Make sure to step lightly while exploring tide pools in order to protect these inhabitants!
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Watch out, fishes! This bright sea anemone is known as a fish-eating anemone, and for good reason. Found in places like Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, its large, sturdy tentacles are capable of bringing down shrimps and small fishes.
Photo: Michael Carver
How did the hammerhead shark do on their test? They nailed it!
As Shark Week comes to a close, we had to show off this hammerhead shark in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (and share a dad joke). Sharks are magnificent creatures, but often misunderstood: we seem to be a far greater threat to them than they are to us, as sharks are frequently caught as bycatch, while they provide a crucial ecosystem service by keeping marine food webs in check.
Photo: Mitchell Tartt/NOAA.
We have a tricky quiz question for folks today: How many gills does this bluntnose sixgill shark in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary have? Okay, we'll give you a hint: it's more than 5...
You can bring this and tons of other fintastic sharks to life on the page by downloading our free sharks and rays coloring book.
Photo: NOAA
Pop quiz: Is a whale shark a whale or a shark?
Correct Answer: A shark! While whales are mammals, whale sharks, like this one in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, are actually cartilaginous fish. They get their name from their enormous size, sometimes stretching to around 40 feet long. Despite being the largest shark in the ocean, whale sharks are gentle giants, feeding primarily on plankton.
*Bonus fact*: Notice those white spots? Those are unique to each individual, just like a human fingerprint!
Photo: Ryan Eckert
Incoming! Looks like this white shark in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary wanted to get in on the body surfing. White sharks are found in Monterey Bay year-round, but some of the larger migratory sharks show up around October every year. Do you know on average how far a white shark can travel in one day?
Photo: Jim Bryan
Like this blacktip reef shark in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, sharks help maintain balanced prey populations by eating sick and weaker individuals. Often found living in nearshore waters, the presence of these friends can indicate a healthy ecosystem and are a welcome sight on the reef!
Photo: Mark Nadon/NOAA
Great white sharks, like this one in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, are one of the most respected predators on earth. These behemoth beauties can grow to 20 feet in length and can weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Some great whites have been known to launch themselves completely out of the water to catch unsuspecting seals off guard. They're called "great" for a reason!
Photo: David McGuire
Dunnn dun...dunnnn dun... WOAH! #SharkWeek has snuck up on us once again, just like this tiger shark catching an albatross by surprise in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. We will be sharing some fintastic content about these jawsome predators all week long so make sure you have a big boat ready! Which species of shark are you most excited to see?
Photo: Ilana Nimz/NOAA
Shelfie time! The camera loves this green sea turtle in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, but that doesn't mean the turtle loves the camera. When encountering wildlife, always remember to give the animals plenty of room to ensure you both stay happy and safe.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
In honor of National Lighthouse Day, we are celebrating the sentinels of our sanctuary system! Lighthouses, like this one in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, have helped guide sailors away from danger and into safe harbors for centuries. Learn about a few of our sentinels here.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Have you explored our newest sanctuary yet? Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary protects more than 100 sunken World War I wooden steamships. One of the best ways to visit this "Ghost Fleet" is by hopping in a kayak and heading out to the wrecks.
Photo: Kate Thompson/NOAA
What big eyes you have… what big teeth you have! This spotted moray eel in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary looks like it might just huff and puff and blow your house down!
Photo: Steve Miller
What do the ocean and Great Lakes mean to you? For many of our visitors, like these surfers in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, the outdoors is a source of both physical and mental wellness. You can find connections with nature, history, and culture in the sanctuary system, which is why it is so important to be a steward and protect these treasures for future generations.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Adventure awaits! These anglers in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are taking full advantage of the sunshine and fresh air that nature has to offer. Few places in the world can compare to the beauty of the National Marine Sanctuary System, and this weekend is a perfect opportunity to get out there and take advantage of its wonders. Our sanctuaries are open to diving, surfing, swimming, kayaking, bird and wildlife watching, recreational fishing, virtual events and more! How will you Get Into Your Sanctuary this weekend?
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Adventure awaits! These anglers in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are taking full advantage of the sunshine and fresh air that nature has to offer. Few places in the world can compare to the beauty of the National Marine Sanctuary System, and this weekend is a perfect opportunity to get out there and take advantage of its wonders. Our sanctuaries are open to diving, surfing, swimming, kayaking, bird and wildlife watching, recreational fishing, virtual events and more! How will you Get Into Your Sanctuary this weekend?
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Looking to connect with the outdoors? All weekend long (starting today at 3pm EDT!) we are bringing the best of nature right to your fingertips with 24 virtual opportunities to Get Into Your Sanctuary! Find out which birds call NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary home, or take a wildlife cruise through NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, there is so much to explore!
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Calling all ocean lovers! Show us how you get into your sanctuary by submitting photos to our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Now through Labor Day, send us your best photos of your sanctuary and you may be featured on our website and social media!
This year we are introducing a new category, "Sanctuaries at Home," where you can show us your drawings, stewardship activities, attendance at virtual sanctuary events, or any other ways you're connecting to your sanctuaries from home.
Photo: Joya Wang
Incoming! Today is International Tiger Day, and this tiger shark in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is making sure you know it. Tiger sharks are one of the most impressive predators in the sea. With their rows of serrated teeth, these sharks pack a bite powerful enough to chomp through the shells of sea turtles! These graceful hunters are sure to inspire you to celebrate today.
Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA
What happens to a shipwreck on the ocean floor? The City of Atlanta, pictured here, sank on January 19, 1942 in what is now known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Before becoming the artificial reef it is today, this vessel lived a dynamic life, traveling the East Coast of the United States for decades.
Photo: NOAA
"Look! I can fly!" This Pacific white sided dolphin in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary has been hanging out with the gulls a little too often. Have you ever seen a breach in action?
Photo: Sage Tezak/NOAA
In NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, home is where the kelp is! Kelp forests provide food and shelter to this California sheephead protecting it from predators and rough storms. These hotspots of biodiversity are the foundation of a complex food web and are of incredible importance to the health of our marine ecosystems.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
In NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, home is where the kelp is! Kelp forests provide food and shelter to this California sheephead protecting it from predators and rough storms. These hotspots of biodiversity are the foundation of a complex food web and are of incredible importance to the health of our marine ecosystems.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
"Remember, rip it, roll it and punch it!" These little squirts are green sea turtles riding the waves in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Use them as a reminder to go with the flow today.
Photo: Koa Matsuoka
Check out these Hawaiian spinner dolphins enjoying the blue waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! This photo was taken by one of our Nancy Foster Scholars, Alexandra Avila. Alexandra’s work has focused on the effects of oceanographic processes on the dispersal of larval rockfish, and the effectiveness of marine protected areas in Oregon and Washington.
NOAA’s Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program supports master’s and doctoral degrees in a variety of maritime-related disciplines. We encourage women and members of minority groups to apply!
Photo: Alexandra Avila
Are these two singing a duet? While it may seem that way, these juvenile elephant seals are actually play fighting. Once these seals reach maturity, their fights become more and more serious. For now, though, it's all in good fun!
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Join us in shellebrating NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary's 26th birthday! Protecting over 3,000 square miles of ocean, this sanctuary is home to a wide diversity of marine life, including this orange sea anemone, orcas, sea otters, and many more of our favorite ocean critters. In addition to important ecological resources, the sanctuary has a rich cultural and historical legacy. The vibrant contemporary communities of the Makah Tribe, Quileute Tribe, Hoh Tribe, and Quinault Nation have forged inseparable ties to the ocean environment along the Olympic Coast. There are even shipwrecks, their remains broken by the intense natural forces of the coastline or concealed from us in deeper parts of the Sanctuary. There is definitely a lot to celebrate here!
Photo: David Katy Laveck Foster
The ocean connects us all! Humpback Whales, which feed in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary from April through December, migrate each winter to the Caribbean Sea near the Dominican Republic to mate and calve. To celebrate the geographic connection, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary partnered with Hispanic Access Foundation and Massachusetts-based Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal last summer to bring community members in Lawrence, Massachusetts on a whale watching trip to see these behemoth beauties up close! The fun-filled day during #LatinoConservationWeek was a whale of a time, bringing folks together and encouraging environmental stewardship.
Photo: Courtesy of Hispanic Access Foundation
What would you call this shade of lipgloss? This giant clam in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is making us think that maybe we should change the saying from "happy as a clam" to "glam as a clam!"
Photo: NOAA
Who's ready for second breakfast? Check out this greedy southern sea otter snacking on a red rock crab while holding on to a second one for later! Maybe they've been getting into meal prep?
Photo: Douglas Croft
This week we are celebrating Latino Conservation Week! Created by the Hispanic Access Foundation, this week celebrates the Latinx community's role in conserving the great outdoors and encourages continued protection into the future. For many, caring for the environment can be driven by shared positive experiences. We are hosting a virtual live interaction with the Hispanic Access Foundation on Wednesday, July 22nd at 4pm. Tune in to learn more about Latino Conservation Week and the fun events you can get involved in, and how you can enjoy everything the outdoors has to offer from your home!
Photo: Anne Smrcina/NOAA
Earlier this year, NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary teamed up with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. They teach principles of responsible recreation, aiming to create sustainable and healthy ecosystems for everyone to enjoy. Through workshops, outreach, and service projects, trainers taught "The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace." These principles emphasize the best ways to recover and preserve this beautiful sanctuary.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Diving can be a great way to explore our beautiful sanctuaries! This diver in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary reminds us of an underwater Dorothy, though with ruby flippers instead of slippers. When diving, make sure you have your courage, brains, and heart all ready so you can have a grand adventure!
Photo: David Ruck/NOAA
Shipwreck central! Lying beneath the waves in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the Dunnottar Castle shipwreck. Built in Glasgow in 1874, this three-masted British ship got lost on its way to California due to a malfunctioning chronometer, and crashed into the reef. The crew abandoned ship, leaving the wreck to disappear under the surface until it was discovered by Kure Atoll refuge staff many years later. Today, this well-preserved artifact is home to a wide variety of marine life, and provides skilled divers with a window into the past.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Today is #SharkAwarenessDay! Meet the basking shark. Basking sharks are the second largest sharks in the world, sometimes growing to the length of a school bus! These gentle giants filter feed on dense clumps of copepods, tiny crustaceans about the size of a grain of rice.
Our friends at NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary recently published a free Sharks and Rays coloring book.
Print it out and share a photo with us showing how you make these fintastic predators come to life on the page by submitting to our Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest in the "Sanctuaries at Home" category!
Photo: Kristin Campbell/Newport Coastal Adventure
Did you know that NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia is one of the largest near-shore "live-bottom" reefs of the southeastern United States? "Live bottom" is a term used to refer to hard or rocky seafloor that typically supports high numbers of large invertebrates such as sponges, corals and sea squirts. These spineless creatures thrive in rocky areas, as many are able to attach themselves more firmly to the hard substrate, as compared to sandy or muddy "soft" bottom habitats. How many different creatures can you spot in this live-bottom reef?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Feeling crabby that it's already Sunday? Maybe some new food will help! Did you know this clawsome kelp crab in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary changes its diets with the season? During the summer, when algae are plentiful, kelp crabs are mainly herbivores. However, when the algae diminish in winter, these crabs switch to a carnivorous diet, eating mussels, barnacles, and hydroids. Now that is eating seasonally!
Photo: Chad King/NOAA
We know that the first rule of fight club is that you don't talk about fight club...but have you heard about the brawls going on in the depths of NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary? Surprisingly, the fighters are none other than bat stars! When bat stars meet, they often "arm-wrestle" each other trying to get an arm on top of the other's. If you're able to catch a skirmish, we recommend some popcorn!
Photo: Dwayne Meadows/NOAA
Biiiiig mood. We've made it through another work week, and for some of us (like this northern elephant seal in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary) that means it's time for a nap! How are you relaxing this weekend?!
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
"Okay on the count of three we'll all jump in. One, two..." These tufted puffins in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary look a little wary about that first dive into the cold water below. Don't worry, the water is just fine!
Photo: Mary Sue Brancato/NOAA
Let's add a pop of color to your day! The vibrant reefscapes in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa never cease to amaze us. The colors of these fish remind us of pink lemonade and sunsets! What do they remind you of?
Photo: Wendy Cover/NOAA
Students can make a big impact when it comes to reducing marine debris, like this ocean guardian near NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! An Ocean Guardian School makes a commitment to the protection and conservation of its local watersheds, the world's ocean, and special ocean areas, like national marine sanctuaries.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
How do you keep your local waters clean? We work with the NOAA Marine Debris Program to bring you information about marine debris, how it affects you and the ocean, and even better -- how you can prevent it. By working together, like these two volunteers in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, we can help make the ocean a cleaner, better place! Learn how you can help.
Photo: Karlyn Langjahr/NOAA
It's time for trash talk! One of our least favorite things to see in our sanctuaries is trash, whether it's plastic bottles, broken glass, or a lost balloon. Simply put, we'd give you the option to dislike this photo from Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary if we could.
Learn more about where marine debris comes from, its impact on ocean ecosystems, and all the ways it can ruin a perfect beach day.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
It's Independence Day! Our planet is an ocean planet. The National Marine Sanctuary System protects some of the most iconic underwater places throughout the United States, but we can't do it without you. No matter where you are, the ocean and Great Lakes are in your hands. Today, just as any day, it is important that we continue to protect our marine habitats and ensure future generations can enjoy the wonders of the sea, like these Ocean Guardians in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. What do national marine sanctuaries mean to you?
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
This Laysan albatross chick in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is one of the species whose wellbeing is threatened by marine debris on the shore. Reducing your plastic footprint is a great first step. Commit to changing your habits by reducing your use of disposable and single-use plastic items, reusing items, and/or recycling them. Be sure that any trash you do bring with you to the beach this weekend is packed out. The only thing that should be left behind is footsteps!
Photo: Ryan Tabata/NOAA
This ocean steward is taking responsible recreation to a whole new level! Trash and debris can unfortunately be found in all of our national marine sanctuaries, and it is up to each of us to do our part to reduce marine debris. This kayaker in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary shows just how much of a difference one person can make in this battle. When you visit your national marine sanctuaries, make sure to follow their lead and pick up any pieces of trash you safely can!
Photo: Robert Keeley/NOAA
It's Clean Beaches Week! We are going to take this time to highlight the importance of keeping our coasts clean and the different ways you can be an ocean steward in your own backyard! Beaches, like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, rely on stewardship throughout the watershed to keep it looking this pristine for you and our marine friends! How do you help keep your local beaches clean?
Photo: Lisa Carpenter
Don't be distracted by the orca-batics, this NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary visitor can propel through the water at great speeds with large, paddle-like flippers and a muscular tail! The record-holder is a male timed at 34.5 miles per hour in 1958. With the fastest human swimmers averaging just over 5 miles per hour, there's no competition!
Photo: NWFSC
Now that has to be the world's largest (and deepest) strawberry! Although there isn't enough light (and maybe too much salt?) to grow strawberries on Craine's Point in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, these strawberry anemones, and orange hydroids are doing their best to brighten up these deep waters.
This photo is from a technical expedition in 2010. The mission was the first technical dive in Cordell Bank's waters since the sanctuary's designation in 1989. This dive contributed greatly to our knowledge of ocean communities living at the upper reaches of Cordell Bank.
Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA
Notice anyfin different about this reef? It's actually a sunken tanker from World War II hidden near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary! Today, Dixie Arrow acts as a lively ecosystem for all types of marine life. With all this company, there are no lone sharks here!
Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA
Are you enjoying your Saturday as much as these Risso's dolphins in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary? Typically, these dolphins are found in deep waters offshore, diving nearly 1,000 feet by the continental shelf edge. Lucky for us these Risso's dolphins decided to have some fun in the sun!
Photo: Douglas Croft, under NOAA permit #20519
The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most critically endangered populations of large whales in the world. Each year, right whales travel to NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to feed. To protect these whales, we're working closely with NOAA Fisheries Service and other partners to reduce human impacts, like collisions with vessels and entanglements in fishing gear. You can help protect right whales, too, by supporting your regional stranding network and by working to reduce marine debris!
This right whale is known as Scoop. He's an adult male who was first sighted in 1956. Here, he's feeding near Atlantic white-sided dolphins -- images like these give a sense of just how big whales like Scoop are!
Photo: Allison Henry/NOAA, under MMPA Permit #17335
I don't think you're ready for this jelly(fish)! Atlantic sea nettles can be found in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, and are known to pack quite a punch. The sting from their tentacles comes from a toxin that is mild to humans but paralyzes prey like zooplankton. We definitely won't be getting too close, though!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Someone call Dean Martin because that's a moray! Found in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, moray eels are incredible nocturnal hunters. Besides the razor-sharp set of teeth in their mouth, moray eels also have another set of jaws in their throat to help swallow prey. These slippery animals commonly hide in rock crevices, remember to always give them plenty of space.
Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA
Did you know manta rays have the largest brains of any fish? Found in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, these rays are sometimes called Einsteins of the sea, they can actually recognize themselves in the mirror. If you are planning a dive trip to see them, just be sure to leave your mirrors at home!
Photo: G.P. Schmal/NOAA
NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is home to rare underwater sinkholes. These sinkholes host a unique bacterial community of microbes that scientists from around the world have studied for more than 15 years.
The R/V Storm, pictured here, is a NOAA research vessel that uses remotely operated vehicles to explore the sinkholes, and dive deeper (literally) into the history of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Anyone else ready for a nap? This California sea hare was found in an eelgrass bed in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The horn-like structures seen on the head of the sea hare is called a rhinophore (“rhino” means nose, “phore” means carrier). Rhinophores allow these animals to pick up chemical cues in the water!
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Coming through! Sand tiger sharks, like this one in Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, may look scary, but this species is known to be rather docile. Interestingly, sand tiger sharks sometimes come to the surface and gulp down some air. No— they aren’t doing this to breathe, but rather to hunt. By storing this air in their bellies, sand tiger sharks are able to float motionless in the water and stalk prey. What do you think this technique should be called?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Did this sea star belly flop onto the sand? Is it tanning? Is it doing a split? Found in the rocky intertidal zone of NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, sea stars like this actually use salt water to pump nutrients through their bodies. This fascinating feature is called a water vascular system, and is unique to echinoderms, like sea stars and sea urchins. Talk about feeling connected to the ocean!
Photo: Kate Thompson
It’s World Sea Turtle Day! This green sea turtle, or honu in Hawaiian, can be found in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, eating mostly seagrasses and algae. These green beauties are protected under the endangered species act, due to such threats as bycatch, habitat loss, and entanglement.
You can help protect these turtley amazing animals by picking up trash at the beach, keeping a safe distance from adults and nests, and always practicing good ocean stewardship.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Happy birthday to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument! The monument is of great importance to Native Hawaiians, with significant cultural sites found on the islands of Nihoa and Mokumanamana. These fish in French Frigate Shoals are just a few of the millions of creatures that this monument protects, including sea turtles, monk seals, and 14 million seabirds. With so many inhabitants, this birthday party is going to need a lot of cake!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
1, 2, 3… okay we give up trying to count! Despite what it looks like, those are not penguins in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, but common murres. As you can see, these seabirds have the most densely packed nesting colonies of any type of bird.
Can you count how many common murres are in this pic? We figure there has to be at least 10.
Photo: Sandra Rhodes/USFWS
Good vibes and high tides! This boater in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary certainly enjoyed an adventure-filled day! You can learn how to practice safe boating during National Fishing and Boating Week.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Fishing is more than just a hobby! Anglers, like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, know that fishing helps maintain healthy ecosystems, benefits economies, and allows people to responsibly interact with nature. Besides, you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a fishing pole!
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Today we honor King Kamehameha, a legendary figure in Hawaiian history. In 1810, Kamehameha united the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom and became the first ruler. A fierce and determined warrior, Kamehameha spent decades navigating tricky alliances and battling powerful chiefs, all in the relentless pursuit to unite and rule the Hawaiian Islands. Called Kamehameha the Great, he established the “law of the splintered paddle,” or Ke Kānāwai Māmalahoe in Hawaiian, which was adapted in 1978 to become part of the Hawaii State Constitution. Today, this breathtaking environment is protected by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Boaters and anglers, like this fly fisherman in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, are cherished members of our sanctuary community. By recreating responsibly, following local regulations, and leaving our sanctuaries and sensitive wildlife unharmed, visitors can practice marine stewardship and ensure that future generations get to enjoy the wonders of the sea.
Learn more about how to interact with wildlife when you encounter them.
Photo: Sepp Haukebo
Eat, sleep, boat, repeat. We’d like to modify this excellent life motto just a tiny bit to eat, sleep, boat safely, repeat! It's important for both the health of our sanctuaries and the fun of our visitors that all boaters are operating safely. NOAA offers a wide range of free resources for safe recreational boating.
For boaters like these in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA offers some extra assistance for smooth sailing with this free Boater Education Course.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
It's World Oceans Day! Each year on this day, we celebrate the life-giving force that is our ocean. The ocean provides the oxygen we breathe, sustains an amazing array of animals and plants, and more. This year, we want to highlight the next generation of ocean scientists, like this adventurer in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Children are the future and will one day lead us in protecting our amazing ocean.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Planning your next trip? Where better to have some fun in the sun than our beautiful national marine sanctuaries? Fishing and boating offer amazing ways to connect intimately with nature and make unforgettable memories. With breathtaking views, calm seas, and a plethora of fish waiting just below the surface, people of all ages can enjoy a dose of vitamin sea.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
It’s National Fishing and Boating Week! While our visitor centers are closed, the public waters within our national marine sanctuaries remain open for responsible recreation in accordance with CDC guidance and local regulations. Learn more
Photo: RBFF
Enjoyment and appreciation of the great outdoors is a fundamental American value. Like our iconic national parks, national marine sanctuaries are places of hope, inspiration, biodiversity, and resilience. But they are more than just ocean parks; they’re communities with diverse cultures, values, and ideas. By embracing and celebrating this diversity, we can ensure a bright future of our ocean and Great Lakes for current and future generations.
Whether you live on a coast or in a community far from the shore, we invite you to experience the power and beauty of America’s sanctuary system and form your own lasting memories.
Photo: NOAA
Is anyone else having a hard time figuring out where this common octopus ends and the habitat starts? Divers found this camouflaged friend in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary blending into their surroundings! Using a network of pigment cells and specialized muscles in its skin, this invertebrate can almost instantaneously match the colors, patterns, and even textures of its surroundings. Predators swim by without even noticing it. Keep an eye out for creatures hiding in plain sight on your next trip!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
We interrupt your regular feed for a seally good joke, inspired by this wide-eyed seal in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. What do seals study in school? Answer: Art Art Art! Thank you, thank you, we'll be here all week!
Photo: Peter Pyle/SWFSC
Today is special because it is none otter than World Otter Day! Otters are one of the cutest inhabitants of our sanctuaries. I mean, look at this little friend in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Not only are otters adorable, they are keystone species. By feeding on sea urchins, otters help kelp forests flourish, which benefits the entire ecosystem. These fluffy chubsters can do no wrong!
Photo: Douglas Croft
Who else is ready to paddle into the weekend? Paddleboarding is a great way to explore NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and watch wildlife. Even if you're far away from American Samoa, you can check out this amazing sanctuary.
Photo:Ropate Delana/NOAA
Dr. Isabella Kauakea Aiona Abbott has been called “the First Lady of Limu.” She was the first Native Hawaiian to earn a doctorate in science, the first female biology professor at Stanford University, and an internationally recognized authority on marine algae, or limu in Hawaiian, bringing unique ancient Hawaiian knowledge to her studies and teachings. She was the author of eight books and more than 150 scientific papers. She named more than 200 species, as well as naming NOAA’s research vessel, Hiʻialakai, which in Hawaiian means “embracing pathways to the sea.” Isabella was a towering inspiration to generations of students and colleagues due to her achievements, connections to people, and a lifelong passion for limu. She was a member of the Reserve Advisory Council from 2001 until her passing in 2010. In a fitting tribute, researchers at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument named a recently discovered species of limu from Papahānaumokuākea after Isabella: Martensia abbottiae.
Photo: Celia Smith/University of Hawaiʻi
This rose has a different kind of thorn! Found in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, the white-spotted rose anemone has specialized stinging cells in the tentacles surrounding its mouth. When prey or predators swim by, a barbed poisonous hook is ejected that can paralyze or even kill the target. Have you seen one of these anemones when diving in your sanctuary?
Photo: Cindy Shaw
A beautiful undersea flower? No – this is a cockscomb nudibranch, a type of sea slug! Look closely and you can see its digestive tract through its translucent body.
This small nudibranch was photographed by Robin Agarwal at NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and was a submission for the 2019 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. The 2020 photo contest is now open!
Photo: Robin Agarwal
Hawaiʻi, the most isolated archipelago in the world, was globally connected in the 19th century due to the efforts of King David Kalākaua of the Hawaiian Kingdom, who reigned from 1874 to 1891. An educated and charismatic leader, he is the first head of state to circumnavigate the globe. His intellectual and artistic pursuits included science, law, music composition, military strategy, history, and new technology. Kalākaua, an avid inventor, met Thomas Edison in New York in 1881. By 1887, his home ʻIolani Palace boasted 325 incandescent bulbs four years before the White House acquired electric lights. His leadership inspired his people to take pride in their intellectual and cultural heritage. Kalākauaʻs vision of a vibrant nation is embodied and expressed by the cultural practitioners and artists at the annual Merrie Monarch Festival held in Hilo, said to be the “Superbowl” of hula and Hawaiian culture.
Photo: J.J. Williams/Hawai‘i State Archives
Time to celebrate! Today NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary is recognizing 31 years in the National Marine Sanctuary System. Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an extremely productive marine area off the west coast of the United States in northern California, just north of NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary protects a rocky bank, home to a rich and diverse marine community. What species can you spot in this photo?
Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA
Crush, is that you? Today is the 20th anniversary of World Turtle Day, which was created to shell-ebrate and help protect turtles around the world. Our National Marine Sanctuary System is home to many species of turtles, including this green sea turtle, or honu, in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. They grow to 200 pounds or more and migrate once every two to five years across hundreds of miles of open ocean to mate and nest in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands at French Frigate Shoals.!
Photo: John Burns/NOAA
Today is the International Day for Biological Diversity! Did you know that coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet?
Sometimes called rainforests of the sea, coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine environment. Having high biodiversity helps make these ecosystems more resilient to change. Healthy and diverse reefs, like this one in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, are key to discovering new medicines, contributing to local economies, and protecting shorelines. Always remember to practice responsible recreation to protect these beautiful biodiverse ecosystems!
Photo: Daryl Duda
Save the date! You're invited to Get Into Your Sanctuary over the long weekend of July 31-August 2. We'll be holding events–virtual dives, webinars, and more–in celebration of recreation in your National Marine Sanctuary System.
Plus, our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest kicks off this weekend and will run through Labor Day weekend! Submit your photos in the categories Sanctuary Views, Sanctuary Life, Sanctuary Recreation, and Sanctuaries at Home for a chance to win.
Photo: Bruce Sudweeks
The Hawaiian language was once on the verge of extinction. In 1984, there were less than 50 children that could speak fluently. It was then that the Hawaiian language revitalization movement began through the establishment of preschools that used immersion Hawaiian language-medium education. Today, Hawaiian language is an official language of the state of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian language-medium education is present from preschool to Ph.D., an enormous accomplishment that has taken several decades. At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo the doctorate program in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization is the first doctorate in the United States conducted in an Indigenous language and the first doctorate in the world to revitalize an Indigenous language.
To support the normalization of Hawaiian language and to accomplish the stewardship goals of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo provides bilingual interpretation for the growing number of Hawaiian language speakers.
Photo: Jamie Makasobe
Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month is here, and we are celebrating our sanctuaries’ unique historic and cultural identities. The Siapo (or Tapa) is one of the oldest art forms in Polynesia, and each design motif is a symbol originating from Samoa’s natural environment. The Siapo shown here was created for NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa by the Samoan artist Reggie Meredith, using a traditional Siapo mamanu form. The sanctuary's visitor center, the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center, is octagonal in shape to match this Siapo’s eight sections (or motifs).
Photo: Reggie Meredith
Manu-o-Kū, or white terns, are known by traditional Hawaiian navigators as one of the best indicators of land. Manu-o-Kū go out to sea in the morning to feed on fish, and return to land at night to rest. The flights of such birds are useful signs for those seeking landfall since they provide a fairly specific direction to the seafarer. Observing the daily flight patterns of these birds can indicate the direction of islands far out of the range of sight.
When foraging for food for their young, it is estimated that manu-o-Kū may forage as far as 120 miles from land. In Hawaiian culture, some seabirds are often referred to as extensions of land because of their connection to islands.
The meaning of manu-o-Kū is often interpreted as “bird of Kū." Kū is one of the four major Hawaiian gods and is associated with diverse aspects of the Hawaiian universe such as governance, certain types of fishing and crop production, carving of canoes, long life, and family. Some of the meanings of the word kū that are also associated to the god Kū are upright, to rise up, or to establish. As reliable patrons of navigation and wayfinding, manu-o-Kū embody the energy of Kū and his concern for the governance and prosperity of a rising nation like an island from out of the sea.
Photo: James Watt/NOAA
The white ibis certainly "fits the bill" as one of the most common wading birds in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Their long, red bills are used to stir up and catch prey in the sanctuary's shallow waters. White ibises are usually followed by other wading birds that attempt to catch the scraps.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
In 1980, Nainoa Thompson became the first Native Hawaiian in 600 years to use wayfinding – non-instrument navigation – to sail a traditional Hawaiian waʻa kaulua (double-hulled sailing canoe) to Tahiti and back. He learned this ancient skill from master navigator Mau Piailug of Satawal, Micronesia. The voyage of Hōkūleʻa and the crews that sailed it helped spark a renaissance of Hawaiian language and culture. Since then, Hōkūleʻa has sailed around the world, visiting over 150 ports across 18 nations to spread a message of Mālama Honua (caring for Island Earth). Nainoa and a small group of other master navigators continue to train new generations of wayfinders, using the islands of Nihoa and Mokumanamana in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as training grounds for apprentices readying themselves to lead crews on long, open ocean voyages beyond the Hawaiian archipelago.
Photo: Brad Ka‘aleleo Wong/Office of Hawaiian Affairs
The month of May is Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month! In American Samoa, there is a mythological story called “Sina and the Eel” that tells the origin of the first coconut tree. Legend tells of a beautiful girl named Sina who befriended an eel. The eel grew large and fell in love with Sina, but this frightened her. The village chiefs saw her in anguish and rushed out to kill the eel. Before it died, the eel requested Sina to bury its head in the ground, and from its place, a “tree of life” known as the coconut tree would grow from it. This tree is the eel’s gift of love for her.
The coconut, with husks removed, has a facial resemblance of the eel, with its two eyes and a mouth. The legend suggests that by taking a drink from the coconut, it is a kiss for the eel. The coconut tree is a gift of life for the Samoan people. Every part of the tree is used in Samoan culture. It provides a source of food, shelter, clothing, cooking materials, and a wide range of useful products.
Photo: NOAA
It's time for a round of I Spy in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary! Can you identify the creature hidden in this photo?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Whales, such as the humpback whale, are known as koholā in the Hawaiian language. They have long been revered for their connection to the native people of Hawai‘i and their history. Various oral traditions and written historical accounts describe the relationship between the early people of Hawaiʻi and koholā in Hawaiian waters and there are many other examples of this cultural heritage within legends, storied place names, and material culture. Here, a humpback whale swims in the warm waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #14682
The fautasi (meaning “built as one”) is a traditional Samoan longboat canoe, sometimes up to 100 feet long! The fautasi is significant as a living maritime cultural tradition in American Samoa. Long ago, fautasi were used primarily in warfare to transfer cargo and supplies, and as a mode of inter island transportation. Today, fautasi racing is the highlight of the annual American Samoa Flag Day festivities in April, with support from the entire village that trains several months prior.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
So, Monday...we meet again. This sea lion in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has a bad case of the Monday Blues. Let's put a smile on its face! Comment below with something you're looking forward to this week.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Tiger sharks are one of many shark (manō) species in Hawai‘i and are important members of the coastal ecosystem. As apex predators, they help keep marine ecosystems in balance by removing injured and sick animals. Manō are an important part of Native Hawaiian culture. They are found in many stories and songs, where they appear as guardians, villains, navigators, and healers.
Photo: Koa Matsuoka
Have you ever wondered about the name of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument? The name of Papahānaumokuākea acknowledges two prominent Native Hawaiian ancestors: Papahānaumoku, the broad expansive earth who gives birth to islands through the oceanic womb, and Wākea, sky father, the broad expanse that allows us to access time and space. Naming the monument for Papahānaumoku and Wākea is an acknowledgment of the ancestral connections of people and place. Throughout the Pacific, other island cultures acknowledge Papahānaumoku and Wākea by other names such as Papatūānuku and Ranginui in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Fakahotuhenua and Ātea in Tahiti. These similarities tell us about a common origin among distant places throughout the Pacific Islands connected by one ocean.
Pictured here is Nihoa, one of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands protected within the monument.
Learn how to pronounce the name Papahānaumokuākea
Photo: Kaleomanuiwa Wong
May is Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month! The National Marine Sanctuary System has a long history of working closely with communities in American Samoa and Hawai‘i, and all month we'll be featuring information and stories about these collaborations.
Today, say talofa–hello–to NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! The phrase Fa‘a Samoa is often heard in American Samoa and refers to the traditional Samoan way of life. It is the foundation of Polynesia’s oldest culture, dating back about 3,000 years. Just like Fa‘a Samoa places great importance on the collective rather than the individual, the sanctuary is a hub of collaboration, striving together to preserve and protect our special underwater treasures.
Photo: Wendy Cover/NOAA
This week is National Travel and Tourism Week! This is a great time to explore our resources and plan your next adventure at a national marine sanctuary. Where do you dream of going next?
Photo: Bryan Dort
How do you make an octopus laugh? You give it ten-tickles! We hope these dad jokes are kraken you up. This giant Pacific octopus in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary seems to think our puns are inkredible!
Photo: Katy Laveck Foster
That's no moon! It's a moon jelly, and it's being eaten by a swarm of Death Stars – er, bat stars – in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Happy Star Wars Day from your national marine sanctuaries, and May the Fourth be with you!
Photo: Chad King/NOAA
You might not expect to find strawberries and roses in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, but they’re out there—they just look a little different. This rosy rockfish and these strawberry anemones really bring springtime to the reefscape.
Photo: Matt Vieta/BAUE
Time for your daily medit-ocean! Take a deep breath and enjoy the blue-green seas of French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Look closely and you can see terns flying above the water.
Photo: NOAA
What do you think this lizardfish in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is thinking? Leave your caption in the comments!
Photo: Keith C. Flood
Our love for the ocean is manta be! Tag a friend you want to share this (manta) ray of light with.
Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA
Happy anniversary to NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! This sanctuary was originally created to protect the tiny Fagatele Bay, a hotspot for coral biodiversity. In 2012, the sanctuary expanded to become one of our largest national marine sanctuaries. NOAA and the government of American Samoa co-manage this ocean treasure to not only protect its rich biodiversity, but also to support the cultural traditions and history of the region.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Dragon claws? A rocky bouquet? No – gooseneck barnacles! These barnacles are filter feeders, and attach to rocks in the intertidal zone so they can grab small particles of food from the surf. They can be found in many of your national marine sanctuaries, including NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Dayna McLaughlin/NOAA
Each tide pool of NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park is a microcosm, a window into the diversity of ocean life. Here, you'll find sponges, sea urchins, and more!
Photo: B. Bacchus/NPS
Our newest national marine sanctuary is Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, located in Maryland's Potomac River. This site is most renowned for its “Ghost Fleet,” the partially submerged remains of more than 100 wooden steamships that were built in response to threats from World War I-era German U-boats that were sinking ships in the Atlantic. Today, in addition to serving as living museums, the shipwrecks serve as habitat for animals like ospreys.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
I believe I can fly! This adorable little floof is a white tern chick. Also known as fairy terns, or manu-o-kū in Hawaiian, these small birds breed throughout Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. They're one of the 22 species of seabirds that breed and nest in the monument. Unlike most other seabirds, adult white terns don't build a nest; instead, they find a suitable spot on a tree branch, rock ledge, or other surface and lay their egg there.
Photo: Dan Clark/USFWS
It's National Environmental Education Week! From lessons on deep-sea corals to virtual dives into your national marine sanctuaries, we have educational resources for everyone.
Photo: NOAA
National Volunteer Week is a time to recognize our outstanding corps of volunteers who make a difference in their communities and help protect our ocean and Great Lakes. Our intrepid volunteers assist with a wide variety of activities, including beach cleanups, water quality monitoring, community outreach, and wildlife surveys. Here, a volunteer keeps a sharp eye out for whales in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary during last year's Sanctuary Ocean Count, a citizen science project to monitor whales. A warm thank you and mahalo to all our amazing volunteers!
Get to know some of our volunteers.
Photo: Kael Kattil
Happy Earth Day! Today we are celebrating Earth Day's 50th anniversary. Earth is an ocean planet, and our ocean connects us all and sustains vibrant ecosystems. Your national marine sanctuaries protect creatures great and small from whales to krill, and habitats from kelp forests to coral reefs. Today is an opportunity to celebrate our blue planet and its wild diversity, and to ask ourselves what we can do to conserve it for future generations. How are you celebrating Earth Day today?
Photo: Douglas Croft
What's up with this pelican's bill? American white pelicans are among the many birds that live in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for at least part of the year. During the breeding season, adult white pelicans grow a distinctive horn on their upper bill. The horn's purpose isn't known for sure, but scientists think it may be part of courtship competition.
Photo: Douglas Croft
Caption this! What do you think this shrimp is thinking while hanging out in a deep-sea sponge in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa?
Photo: OET/NOAA
"WAIT FOR MEEEEE! I want to give you a hug! And a hug, and a hug, and a hug..."
This social octopus was spotted in the deep waters of Bodega Canyon in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, during the 2019 expedition with Nautilus Live.
Photo: OET/NOAA
Take a second to close your eyes and imagine all the sounds of NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Do you hear the gulls squawking? The waves splashing against the rocks?
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Happy Bat (Star) Appreciation Day! Bat stars typically have five arms connected by webbing that gives them a bat-like look. This one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, though, has an extra one. Some species of sea stars can regenerate limbs after damage or predation, so it's likely that this sea star is growing a new arm after a narrow escape.
Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA
Timmmbbeerrrr!! This minke whale in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is making a splash. Minke whales rarely exhibit breaching behavior, but every once in a while the mood seems to strike them. Can you blame them?
Photo: Anne Smrcina/NOAA
What do you call two barracuda? A pairacuda! This barracuda in NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary seemed to like our pun. Just wait, we’ve got more fintastic jokes where that came from!
Photo: NOAA
Happy National Dolphin Day! 🐬 Your National Marine Sanctuary System is home to a huge variety of dolphin species. Here, a Risso's dolphin leaps out of the water in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. What's your favorite kind of dolphin to see in your sanctuaries?
Photo: Douglas Croft Images.
Nananananananana bat ray! Rays like this bat ray in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are searayiously cool. Their "wings" help them gracefully swim through the water and churn up sand to expose small mollusks, shrimp, crabs, and other animals to eat.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Oh to be a California sea otter, floating on our backs and eating a snack. Sea otters have thick fur that traps air and allows them to float like this adorable little one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The picture of relaxation!
Photo: Peter Flood
"Hi! Hi! What are you doing? Can you give me a ride? Can I grab this? What about this?"
This opportunistic octopus is celebrating National Submarine Day in style. Last fall it hopped aboard the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Hercules while it was exploring a whale fall in the depths of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary with Nautilus Live. Check out footage of the whale fall .
Photo: OET/NOAA
We were hoping to add some more color to your day, and this pic from NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary seems like it’ll add about a hundred! Cordell Bank is home to a wide variety of anemones, fish, and other species that all add their own pop of color to the reefscape. Which one catches your eye the most?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Seaside sandpiper silhouettes…try saying that 10 times fast! The vibrant colors of nature never cease to amaze us, and we hope this golden scene on the shores of NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary does the same for you.
Photo: Anne Mary Schaefer
An algal bouquet? Send it my way! Low tides reveal a diverse array of algal species competing for space on a remote beach on the Makah tribal reservation on the Washington coast. NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary staff collaborate with Makah tribal staff to annually monitor seawater temperature and intertidal organisms, including the beautiful algae!
Photo: Jenny Waddell/NOAA
Have you taken a moment to unwind today? We’re relaxing by day-dreaming of rainbows over the beach in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Jeff Moore
It may be Monday, but we've got your moment of calm. Unclench your jaw and imagine diving with these beautiful pyramid butterfly fish over the coral reefs of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Other mollusks: "Ugh, the giant clam is so shellfish for stealing attention."
Us: "Clam down, we love you all!"
Giant clams like this one can be spotted at Rose Atoll in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. They're the largest bivalve mollusk in the world!
Photo: NOAA
Keep your chin up!" says the Garibaldi. The vibrant Garibaldi is the California state marine fish, and is known for its bright orange color. This one was photographed off Santa Cruz in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Keith C. Flood
The red-footed booby is a seabird well known for its distinctive red feet, bodies well adapted for swimming and diving, and strong flying abilities. They live year-round in tropical and subtropical regions, including Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Red-footed boobies feed at sea, and are known to visit and rest on boats like this research vessel.
Photo: Eden Zang/NOAA
Sometimes you just need a photo of a baby squid.
This little squid-let was seen on a past research expedition in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of California. Have you ever seen anything so inkredible?
Photo: Greg Ryan Anderson/NOAA/Point Blue Conservation Science/ACCESS Oceans
Here's your daily reminder that the little things in life can be just as beautiful and mysterious as the big stuff. Greens and blacks swirl within the eye of a pufferfish in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the Georgia coast, where a kaleidoscope of colorful creatures thrive on and around the sanctuary's living reef.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Here's a magic eye puzzle for you: can you spot the spotted scorpionfish? These masters of disguise are found (by those with keen eyes) in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Their textured skin and mottled coloring helps them sneak up on prey like small fish and crustaceans.
Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA
"AAAAAAAAAA I am a Steller sea lion, hear me roar!" What do you think this sea lion in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary has to say?
Photo: Katy Laveck Foster
Brilliant blue Brandt's beak – can you say that three times fast? Brandt's cormorants, like these two, are often spotted in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. During breeding season, their throat patch and eyes turn a vivid blue – quite the fashion statement!
Photo: Douglas Croft
Brighten up your weekend with this view of NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary! This sanctuary protects a rocky undersea feature 115 feet beneath the ocean surface at its tallest point. Despite its depth, though, Cordell Bank is host to a whole array of technicolor wildlife, from bright pink strawberry anemones to schools of juvenile rockfish. What other creatures can you spot here?
Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA
Time for your daily medit-ocean! Take a deep breath in, exhale, and enjoy the sunlight over NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Time for a nudibranch break! This beauty in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a Hilton's aeolid. Though small (about 2 inches long), Hilton's aeolids aren't to be trifled with – they're known for picking fights with other nudibranchs!
Photo: Robin Agarwa
"Roar! Just kidding, I'm a whale."
Photo: NOAA
Your Tuesday moment of calm: take a deep breath and enjoy the sunset in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
This sea lion in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary has its eye on you! Sea lions have a reflective membrane at the back of their eyes called the tapetum lucidum. This membrane acts as a mirror, bouncing light back through the eye to help sea lions see in murky and low-light conditions.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Today is World Water Day! Wherever you are, you are connected to the ocean by your local waterways. The ocean creates the oxygen we breathe, influences our weather and climate, and harbors an astonishing diversity of life.
This photo of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was taken with a GoPro that was launched to the edge of space via weather balloon. The balloon was launched from San Francisco, hit a maximum altitude of 91,470 feet, and landed in the Salinas Valley area. At this altitude, the camera is above 99.9% of the atmosphere, so it is able to capture the blackness of space above Earth's relatively thin atmosphere. Views like this remind us that Earth Is Blue
Photo: Bryan Chan
Today is the International Day of Forests – and did you know there are forests in the ocean? Kelp forests grow in many of your national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast, where they support lush, biodiverse communities. In NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, pictured here, giant kelp canopies tower above the ocean floor. Giant kelp can grow up to 18 inches per day! Among the many mammals and birds that use these forests as shelter or feeding grounds are seals, sea lions, whales, sea otters, gulls, cormorants, and more.
Photo: Nathan Coy
March is Dolphin Awareness Month! These charismatic ocean creatures are known for being sociable, intelligent, and acrobatic. What is your favorite species of dolphin?
Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA
CAPTION THIS: What do you think these two California sea lions in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary are chatting about?
Photo: Peter Flood
Why have one sea star in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary when you could have...er...eight? Nine? Ten?
Photo: Kim Roberson/NOAA
Happy St. Patrick's Day from this green moray eel in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary! Green moray eels are actually brownish, but they wear green in celebration of the holiday – or, rather, to protect themselves from parasites and disease. That is, these eels secrete a yellowish mucus that covers their skin, giving them a greenish tinge.
Photo: Olivia Williamson
Look, we get it. Not every day can be a good hair day. But cheer up, magnificent frigatebird – you're making an excellent fashion statement with that bright red throat pouch! The lady frigatebirds of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument are sure to love you.
Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
On the water? Always keep an eye out for whales! At least nine instances of humpback whale/vessel collisions have been reported since December in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and whales are also at risk of collisions in other national marine sanctuaries. With recent reports of whales – often young whales – showing propeller injuries, please remember to keep a safe distance. Collisions with vessels are a risk to both the animals and humans.
Boaters can help prevent collisions by posting a lookout at all times throughout the year, not just when whales are most prevalent. An extra set of eyes scanning the waters ahead and to the side of a boat can prevent collisions with marine life, obstructions, divers, and other vessels. Slow down, too: slower speeds may help you avoid hitting a whale or other animals.
If you come across an injured or entangled marine mammal, please maintain the required safe and legal distance and notify your local stranding network.
Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240
Happy Pi Day! This sea anemone in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary isn't a pie and we definitely wouldn't recommend eating it. BUT, sea anemones do exhibit radial symmetry, meaning they're symmetrical around a center point, like a pie, and you could measure their circumference using pi.
Photo: Andy Collins/NOAA
unlit waters harbor a moment of unlikely friendship between a jelly and a fish in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Thank you for joining us this week to honor the memory of NOAA diver and staff member Greg McFall, and for sharing your memories with us.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
With his macro lens, Greg McFall showed off parts of the ocean that many of us never get to see. This “forest” in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is a closeup of a Dendrodoris nudibranch’s gills.
This week, we’re honoring the memory of NOAA diver and staff member Greg McFall. If you knew Greg or his photography, we would love to hear your memories.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
“We can stop finding Nemo!” With a sense of humor and an eye for beauty, Greg McFall captured all sorts of scenes through photography. Here, two anemonefish swim over a large sea anemone in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.
This week, we’re honoring the memory of NOAA diver and staff member Greg McFall. If you knew Greg or his photography, we would love to hear your memories.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
In recent years, Greg McFall was based in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, where his photography lit up the coral reef. Here, a research diver hovers over the reef in the North Tortugas Ecological Reserve.
This week, we’re honoring the memory of NOAA diver and staff member Greg McFall. If you knew Greg or his photography, we would love to hear your memories.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Earlier this year, the National Marine Sanctuary System lost one of the treasured members of our family, Greg McFall. The director of the NOAA Diving Program, Greg had also served as research coordinator and superintendent of NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary and supported many other national marine sanctuaries. His passing is a huge loss to us and to the larger sanctuaries community.
Whether you have been following us on social media for a few months or a few years, you likely came to know Greg through his photography. An accomplished diver and gifted photographer, Greg provided an unparalleled view of the underwater world from the Florida Keys to American Samoa. This week, in honor of his memory, we will be sharing some of his photographs across our social media. If you knew Greg or his photography, we would love to hear your memories.
Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA
Happy International Women's Day! Today we're celebrating all the women who make the National Marine Sanctuary System possible and who dedicate themselves to protecting and understanding marine species and ecosystems.
Here, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Carina Fish pauses during a research expedition in Cordell Bank and Greater Farallones national marine sanctuaries. The Foster Scholarship supports women and members of minoritized groups in graduate school for ocean-related sciences.
Photo: Julie Chase/ACCESS/NOAA/Point Blue Conservation Science
What do you see here: an invertebrate grazing on algae or a piece of abstract art? This is in fact a beautiful lettuce sea slug found in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. We think all marine life is beautiful, especially when it looks like art. What species is your favorite?
Photo: Tiffany Duong/Ocean Rebels
If the color purple is associated with royalty, then all hail NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary for its purple hydrocoral! Have you seen this bright, stunning invertebrate when visiting your national marine sanctuary?
Photo: Adam Obaza
Happy Seagrass Awareness Month! Let’s get down to the grass tacks: seagrass plays a vital role in supporting ocean ecosystems. A wide variety of animals, such as manatees, seahorses, and this shy scorpionfish in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary rely on seagrass for both food and shelter. Seagrass also produces oxygen, protects shores from powerful wave action, and makes water clearer. So put those lawnmowers away, this grass is way too important!
Photo: NOAA
These strawberry anemones in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary are so colorful it feels like summer's right around the corner. These beautiful invertebrates reproduce by cloning themselves, spreading out to cover a large are of rocky reef. Talk about a berry patch!
Photo: Matt Vieta/BAUE
Happy World Wildlife Day! Your National Marine Sanctuary System is dedicated to protecting marine wildlife – from tiny shrimp and corals all the way to massive whales. We work diligently to safeguard endangered species like Hawaiian monk seals, pictured here in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. What steps will you take to protect marine wildlife?
Photo: Melody Bentz
Start your week off right with a virtual trip to Fagatele Bay in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! This small bay is a hotspot for coral diversity. Here, you'll find at least 270 species of fishes, 160 species of coral, and 1,400 species of algae and invertebrates – all in 0.25 square mile! What kinds of corals can you spot in this photo?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
We’re dolphin-itely excited about Dolphin Awareness Month! The month of March is dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness about dolphins. These extremely intelligent creatures can be found in many of your national marine sanctuaries. In NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, common dolphins are known for their impressive acrobatic energy. What is your favorite species of dolphin?
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Happy Leap Day! We think this humpback whale in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary has the right idea. How are you celebrating the extra day?
Photo: Laura Lilly
We’re feeling crabby about the invasive European green crab that has made its way into NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary! This species first appeared along the Western U.S. in 1989, likely through the ballast water of cargo ships traveling across the ocean. These highly adaptable predators feast on shrimp, oysters, clams and small Dungeness crabs, taking away important food sources for local shorebirds and migratory seabirds. Since 2009 researchers from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, universities, and volunteers have been working to remove these crabs.
Photo: Kate Bimrose/NOAA
Asian kelp, or "wakame," is an invasive species of kelp native to Japan that has colonized harbors along the California coastline, including in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Wakame colonizes ecosystems rapidly and densely. That can alter the habitat of native species by reducing the amount of light cover and and restricting water movement. Thanks to a little kelp from national marine sanctuary scientists and volunteers, wakame removal and research efforts are well underway! Studying wakame will help improve management practices of the invasive species while improving understanding of how it impacts local ecosystems.
Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA
What’s black, white, and dangerously strong? Zebra muscles – er, mussels! Zebra mussels are an invasive species in the Great Lakes, probably brought via ballast water discharged by large ships from Europe. These mussels take over hard surfaces such as buoys, docks, and submerged archaeological resources, including the shipwrecks in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Zebra mussels’ presence on shipwrecks creates a significant challenge for archaeologists, historians, and resource managers, making it difficult for them to document wrecks over time. They also alter nutrient cycles and deplete the local food supply for native species.
Photo: USFWS
In recent decades, Indo-Pacific lionfish have been found in coral reefs throughout the southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean – including in sanctuaries like NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Because of their voracious appetites, rapid reproduction rate, and lack of natural predators, these invasive lionfish pose a serious threat to coral reefs, with potential long-term consequences for native fish communities, habitats, and entire ecosystems.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
It's Invasive Species Week! All week long, we'll be bringing you information about invasive species and their effects on national marine sanctuaries. Though environments certainly change over time, invasive species can crowd out native species, shifting the balance and potentially damaging the ecosystem to which they've been introduced. Here, Dr. Steve Lonhart surveys an area of rocky reef in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Chad King/NOAA
Deep sea research in national marine sanctuaries requires all eight hands on deck – at least for this octopus! Researchers aboard the E/V Nautilus spotted this octopus while diving on Davidson Seamount in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary last year. Those green dots in the upper left aren't spooky eyes looking out from the mud, but rather two lasers shined from the remotely operated vehicle Hercules. The lasers are mounted 10 centimeters apart from one another, and help researchers estimate the size of animals like this one.
Photo: OET/NOAA
Nap time! This sleepy friend in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is a Hawaiian monk seal, which is unfortunately one of the most endangered species in the world. These seals face many threats, including limited food supply, entanglement, habitat loss, and human interaction. NOAA scientists are working to manage and conserve monk seal populations so that these adorable animals can continue to survive. If you see a Hawaiian monk seal, keep plenty of distance and report sightings to pifsc.monksealsighting@noaa.gov.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Nudibranch alert! This little beauty in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is a regal sea goddess. Nudibranchs are soft-bodied mollusks and are sometimes known as sea slugs. "Nudibranch" means "naked gills" – these mollusks carry their gills on their backs! There are many different species of nudibranch found all throughout national marine sanctuaries. What is your favorite kind to spot?
Photo: Peter Flood
"For real? You think I'm cute? Aw, get otter here."
We're pawsitive that sea otters are one of the most adorable inhabitants of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Even though they look cuddly, though, make sure to give them plenty of space (pro tip: use a zoom lens or binoculars!). If you get too close, you might interrupt their feeding, grooming, and resting, which can negatively impact their health and make it harder for these adorable creatures to survive. With good ocean etiquette, you can help protect sea otters and other animals.
Photo: Timothy Henkel/Valdosta State University
Enjoy a moment of calm today with these dolphins swimming in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Eden Zang/NOAA
Have you ever met a ctenophore? Also known as comb jellies, these invertebrates move tiny comb-like cilia to travel through the water. These "combs" diffract light, giving the animal a shimmering, rainbow appearance. This one was spotted at night in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Olivia Williamson
This North Atlantic right whale is splashing into World Whale Day! Today, we're celebrating these beautiful ocean giants.
North Atlantic right whales like this one in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary are one of the most highly endangered whale species in the world – only about 400 whales remain. They are threatened by entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships. There is good news, though: so far this season there have been 10 new calves sighted!
Photo: Peter Flood
When a whale dies at sea, its body becomes an oasis for other animals on the seafloor. After death, a whale's body will sink to the seafloor – and there, it can feed other organisms for years or even decades. On the seafloor, the whale carcass or skeleton is known as a whale fall. This past October, researchers on the E/V Nautilus were exploring Davidson Seamount in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary when they came across this whale fall at a depth of 10,623 feet. What animals can you spot on the whale fall?
Photo: OET/NOAA
Looking for a Valentine today? Try using echolocation! Toothed whales, like these orcas in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, emit sounds that travel through the water and bounce off fish and marine mammals. They can use the sounds to create a mental map of where exactly things are! Sounds like a good way to locate a Valentine to us.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Happy Valentine's Day from your National Marine Sanctuary System! We hope today – and every day – brings you lots of love and naps.
Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA, under NMFS Research Permit #848-1695
One of the biggest threats to humpback whales and other whales is entanglement in fishing gear and other debris. Entanglement can injure, starve, or drown whales. Fortunately, teams of intrepid individuals are on the scene to help whales like this one. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary leads the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network, a partnership of government agencies, tour operators, fishers, and more who work together to safely free whales. While of course everyone wants to help entangled whales, it is crucial that you never attempt to disentangle a whale yourself – it can be dangerous for both you and the whale. Instead, call your local stranding network so that trained professionals can help.
Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under MMHSRP permit #18786-02
Whale-come back to Whale Week! Blue whales such such as these beauties in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are the largest animals to ever live on our planet. They are also one of the loudest. Under good conditions, scientists estimate that blue whales can hear each other 1,000 miles away! These behemoths of the sea are threatened by entanglement in fishing gear, being hit by ships, and pollution. To learn more about blue whales, check out .
Photo: Jess Morten/NOAA
It's the International Day of Women & Girls In Science AND it's Whale Week! Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Vanessa ZoBell combines the best of both of these things. A Ph.D. student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, ZoBell uses acoustic monitoring to understand whether slower ships improve whale communication in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Learn more about her research and check out the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship.
Photo courtesy of Vanessa ZoBel
We’re splashing our way into Whale Week 2020! National marine sanctuaries work closely with NOAA Fisheries Service and other partners to ensure the conservation of all whales protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Stay tuned this week to brush up on your whale facts! This beautiful humpback whale was seen swimming underwater in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA under NOAA Permit #14682
Meet Salt, the "grand dame" of NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. She was first spotted in Massachusetts Bay in the 1970s, and has been seen in the sanctuary just about every year since then. She has had 14 calves and many grandchildren, and at least one great-grandcalf! Salt was one of the first northern humpback whales to be recognized at Silver Bank off the coast of the Dominican Republic, providing proof of the humpback whale migratory route in the North Atlantic – which in turn has helped us better protect humpback whale populations through sister sanctuary relationships.
Photo: Laura Howes
Here's a thorny (hint!) trivia question for you: what is this a picture of? Clue number two: this photo was taken in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Comment your guess and we'll reveal the answer on Monday!
Photo: Stephen Matadobra/NOAA
One of these things is not like the other! All three of these birds in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary are common murres, but the white one is leucistic. In leucistic birds, feathers lack melanin pigment, so appear light in color. Common murres are usually black and white like the two in the back, but this one gets to make a fashion statement.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Did you know you can see three national marine sanctuaries from the newly-renovated Point Reyes Lighthouse? The lighthouse gives an unparalleled view of NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Recently, NOAA deputy director RDML Tim Gallaudet (second from left) visited Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary headquarters and took in the view with sanctuary staff, including deputy superintendent Michael Carver (left), then-acting superintendent Carol Bernthal (second from right), and education and outreach coordinator Jennifer Stock (right).
Photo: Adrian Mahoney/NOAA
Nothing is better than walking the beach at low tide, when the sand is still wet and you can see the clouds above and below. What's your favorite beach to wander along NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary?
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Humpback whale tails, or flukes, can be up to 5 meters across! Every humpback whale has a distinctive pattern on its fluke. These patterns are so unique that they can be used to identify individual whales, just like a human fingerprint. This one was spotted in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: R. Finn/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240
Look, little octopus, we didn't want to get out of bed this morning either, but it's Monday and here we are.
This Caribbean reef octopus was spotted taking shelter in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. These beautiful octopodes have specialized color-changing cells that help them blend in with their surroundings so they can stay safe while they rest or sneak up on prey.
Photo: Tiffany Duong/Ocean Rebels
This sea otter in Elkhorn Slough is otterly thrilled that it's World Wetlands Day! Located in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Elkhorn Slough is one of California's last great coastal wetlands. Flushed by ocean tides in the heart of Monterey Bay, its waterways, mudflats, and marsh support a huge diversity of wildlife – including sea otters! Estuaries like Elkhorn Slough are extremely productive ecosystems, and provide food, shelter, migration stopovers, and places to breed for many animals. However, they're also quite delicate and need our help to ensure they remain thriving ecosystems.
Photo: Jenni Peters
We snow everyone loves the snowy egret! Keep your eyes peeled for their bright orange-yellow feet, and you might be able to spot one in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. These wading birds were once extremely rare, having been hunted extensively for their feathers. However, with protection, their populations have recovered and they can often be spotted in your national marine sanctuaries.
Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA
"Everybody, single file please, one at a time...oh, fine. Come on through." Being an underwater traffic director is a little challenging – the fish of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary definitely have places to be.
Photo: Scott Bauer
Happy 45th anniversary to NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary! This iconic place was the first national marine sanctuary ever designated. It protects the historic shipwreck of the Civil War era USS Monitor, and its designation highlighted on the importance of conserving the biodiversity, ecological integrity, and cultural legacy of special marine areas across the country. Happy birthday, Monitor!
Photo:NOAA
Birds of a feather really do flock together! Along the coast of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, visitors can spot an amazing variety of shorebirds. How many different species can you spot here?
Learn more about the various shorebirds and seabirds that call this sanctuary.
Photo: Peggy Langford
It’s National Plan for Vacation Day! What better place to spend your next vacation than at one of your beautiful national marine sanctuaries? Visitors can dive into the mysteries of the deep, explore shipwrecks and reefs, and watch acrobatic whales fling themselves out of the water. There are also ample opportunities for surfing, paddling, boogie boarding, and more. Better start planning now – there is so much to see and do, and 14 national marine sanctuaries to choose from!
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
There’s a storm a-brewing! While it can’t always be warm and sunny at NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, gray skies don’t have to be so dreary. This cloudy sky over Santa Barbara Channel and Santa Cruz Island reminds us of the lively ocean lying just below.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Where do whales go to get braces? The orca-dontist! *crickets* We’ll show ourselves out, you just enjoy this breaching orca in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Michael Richlen
Rinse and repeat looks a little different in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. This green sea turtle, or honu in Hawaiian, is visiting a “cleaning station,” a spot in the reef where fish clean parasites off the turtle’s shell. It may not be your typical shower, but it helps keep these beautiful animals squeaky clean and healthy.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Look at those nails! This common snapping turtle in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary must have a great manicurist. Snapping turtles hunt for their prey in lake depths, and then like this one, return to the surface to warm up in the sun. Have you encountered a snapping turtle in your national marine sanctuary?
Photo: James Garner
"Whale...we're gonna need a bigger boat." These scientists in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary got a treat (or maybe a fright) when a humpback whale breached surprisingly close to them. Small boats like this one allow permitted researchers to get close enough to whales to attach tags with suction cups. The tags then give them a wealth of information about the whale's movements, feeding patterns, and more. If you're out on the water whale watching or just in an area with whales, make sure to give the marine mammals plenty of space!
Photo: NOAA, under NOAA Fisheries Permit #14245
"Uh, excuse me. What are you doing down there?" What do you think this bird fishing in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is thinking?
Photo: Stephen Matadobra/NOAA
Today is National Squirrel(fish) Appreciation Day, and we're big fans of the resident squirrelfish in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary! These reef-dwellers are nocturnal, resting under coral ledges during the day and spending the nights chowing down on small crustaceans
Photo: GP Schmahl/NOAA
We could spend all day looking out at the towering trees and rock formations found at Ruby Beach in Washington state. Which scenic overlook into NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is your favorite?
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Orange you glad these two little invertebrates made friends? This opalescent nudibranch flashes its opal-fire blue stripes as it crawls across the top of a jeweled top snail. What small beauties have you seen in the tide pools of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary?
Photo: Robin Agarwal
Every winter, the beaches of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and other sanctuaries along the West Coast transform into a mating ground for elephant seals. Males battle it out for territory in quick clashes that rarely result in lasting damage. Soon after, the females arrive to breed, and will spend a month on land raising their pups before voyaging back to the sea. Elephant seals are lots of fun to watch, but make sure to give them plenty of space – an elephant seal selfie is NOT a good idea! These huge seals can be dangerous, and when you get too close you can stress them during a critical time in their life.
Photo: Chad King/NOAA
Twenty-eight and feeling great! Happy anniversary to NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. In the late 1960s, scientists began researching the extensive, healthy, and pristine coral reef ecosystems found in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Now, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary protects some of the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the world! Learn more about the sanctuary at flowergarden.noaa.gov.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Happy anniversary to NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary! Though these two sanctuaries share a birthday, they're quite different. Off the coast of California, the misty Greater Farallones provides breeding and feeding grounds for a wide variety of animals, including the iconic white shark. Georgia's Gray's Reef, on the other hand, protects a live-bottom reef home to more than 200 species of fish, as well as an abundance of invertebrates. Happy birthday to these two national marine sanctuaries, and many thanks to their staff and volunteers for protecting our ocean's amazing places!
Top photo © Steven K. Webster/Monterey Bay Aquarium; bottom photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Dreaming of warm summer adventures? Today is National Shop for Travel Day, and it's an excellent time to start thinking about summer vacations in your national marine sanctuaries. Find an adventure for everyone.
Bruce Sudweeks
Dreaming of warm summer adventures? Today is National Shop for Travel Day, and it's an excellent time to start thinking about summer vacations in your national marine sanctuaries. Find an adventure for everyone.
Photo: Chuck Graham
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is home to a wide variety of tropical reef fishes. This reticulated butterflyfish was spotted by photographer Rick Gaffney off the Big Island. What's your favorite fish to see in your national marine sanctuaries?
Photo: Rick Gaffney
Pop quiz: can you identify this mysterious ocean sight? It was spotted in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. We'll have the answer for you tomorrow!.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
We're a sucker for octopuses, especially cute ones like this dumbo octopus! Dumbo octopuses get their names for their ear-like fins, which help them move through the water. This octopus was spotted in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary on this year's Nautilus Live expedition.
Photo: OET/NOAA
Duunnn dun...duunnn dun...wait a second, that's no shark – it's a mola mola! Also known as ocean sunfish, mola mola are the heaviest bony fish in the ocean. These ocean giants roam the seas in search of their favorite food, jellyfish. This one was spotted impersonating a shark in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA
In recent decades, the coral reefs within NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary have been damaged by hurricanes, bleaching, disease, and heavy human use. To help protect and restore these reefs, NOAA and our partners have launched Mission: Iconic Reefs. By restoring corals at seven iconic reefs in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – including through outplanting corals grown in nurseries, like these – we can change the trajectory of an entire ecosystem.
Photo: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Nofin is better than swimming with your friends in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! Common dolphins are gregarious – they're often seen gathering in groups in the sanctuary. What's your favorite kind of dolphin?
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
We dove headfirst into the new year, just like this pink-footed shearwater in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. What new adventures and treasures did the first week of 2020 bring you?
Photo: Sophie Webb/NOAA
Pink coralline algae gives Rose Atoll in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa a rosy hue. What other creatures can you spot in this photo?
Photo: Wendy Cover/NOAA
We're celebrating National Bird Day with some peli-can-do spirit! Hunted for their feathers and later contaminated by DDT and other pesticides, brown pelicans were once endangered. But this iconic bird species, and many others, have recovered in the years since these pesticides were banned. Now, they're commonly seen in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which provides a plentiful supply of fish, krill, and plankton for local and migrating birds to feast on. What's your favorite bird to see in your national marine sanctuaries?
Photo: Sam Bailey
Open wide! Manta rays are the world's largest ray, but they eat tiny, tiny food: plankton like copepods and small shrimp. When feeding, they open their mouths wide, creating a funnel that pushes water and prey through their mouth and over their gill rakers. Not a bad way to get a snack!
Photo: James Watt/NOAA
Pop quiz: what do hungry humpback whales like to eat? Don't be fooled by this photo: humpback whales aren't into eating birds! Rather, these baleen whales live on a diet of krill and small fish. Birds tend to hang around feeding humpback whales to get a bit of the leftovers.
Photo: Jeremy Winn
Paddling out has a special significance at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Early Hawaiians used outrigger canoes to navigate a wild Pacific Ocean while they set out on voyages for exploration and fishing. Today, outrigger canoeing is the official team sport of the Aloha State, and an excellent way to experience the beauty of this national marine sanctuary.
Photo: Barbara Craig
Stargazing – it's not just for the night sky anymore! NOAA biologist Greg Williams came face to face with this ochre star on Tatoosh Island in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary during a research dive in 2017.
Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA
Happy New Year! For this year’s New Year’s Resolution, we’d like to challenge you to join us in committing to a healthier ocean. Whether you participate in a local beach cleanup, reduce your water consumption, or fish responsibly, it all contributes to protecting our ocean for this and future generations.Learn more about how to be a friend of the seas.
Photo: Ryan Tabata/NOAA
There must be mistletoe somewhere in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! They say there are plenty of fish in the sea, but these two sheepheads are clearly taken.
Photo: Tony Knight
Coral reef candy cane? Not quite – this little dose of holiday cheer is none other than the banded coral shrimp, often spotted in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Happy National Candy Cane Day!
Photo: GP Schmahl/NOAA
Holiday lights? Yes please – this Christmas tree hydroid wants in on the festivities! This colonial invertebrate gets its name from its branches, which give it the appearance of a Christmas tree from afar. This one was spotted celebrating the holidays in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Red, white, and merry! These strawberry anemones in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary say happy holidays to all!
Photo: Matt Vieta/BAUEA
Listen up, this is mom-umental! Fale Bommie, or Big Momma, is one of the largest coral heads in the world. Located in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, this coral colony is more than 500 years old and over 6 meters high! Curious divers, like this one, can explore Big Momma and other coral heads in the Valley of the Giants, or take a virtual dive.
Photo: Wendy Cover/NOAA
Kayaking in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the best ways to explore shipwrecks like the Portland, seen here. The cold, clear water of Lake Huron makes it easy to see the shipwreck resting below!
Photo: Bryan Dort
Last minute holiday shopping got us like
Photo: Peter Flood
With the chill of winter upon us, we're dreaming about summertime sunshine. Taking in the sunset at NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is one of our favorite things to do on a summer weekend. Tell us your favorite way to get into your sanctuary!
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
These two orange-peel doris nudibranchs are in a race for the finish line in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Who do you have your bets on: the rookie pushing from behind or the veteran in the lead?
Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA
The waters off North Carolina have claimed thousands of vessels over the years. Most of the shipwrecks near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary are from World War II's Battle of the Atlantic. U-352, for example, was a German U-boat intended to patrol the waters off the U.S. East Coast during the war. Instead, U-352 became the first U-boat sunk by the U.S. Coast Guard during the Battle of the Atlantic. Today, the wreck is a popular dive site for those interested in its history and the dense array of marine life.
Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA
The humpback whale's genus is Megaptera, which means "big wing." It's easy to see how they get this name – their flippers are about a third the length of their entire body! Each winter, these big-winged whales gather in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to mate, give birth, and raise their young.
Photo: NOAA, under NOAA Permit #774-1714
The coral reefs of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary are getting into the holiday spirit! These Christmas tree worms are actually a kind of marine worm. Each worm has two brightly colored crowns that protrude from its tube-like body. The "branches" help the worm snatch small bits of food out of the water column.
Photo: Steve Miller
*sniff sniff* Do you smell that? Smells like the weekend! These California sea lions in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary can tell fun is in the air (and the water) today, so you have our seal of approval to go out and do something super sealy!
Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA
Known for their incredible energy and acrobatic skills, short-beaked common dolphins are one of many marine mammal species that call NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary home. These gregarious dolphins can be spotted in large groups within the sanctuary. At night, they typically dive to about 100 feet to feed on schooling fish and squid, but they're capable of diving to up to 1,000 feet below the ocean surface!
Photo: Douglas Croft
These technicolor beauties are none other than painted elysias! Painted elysias are a kind of sea slug. Keen-eyed divers can spot them in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, but only if they're looking carefully – though they're bright, these sea slugs are usually no bigger than an inch in length.
Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA
Today is International Mountain Day – and did you know that there are mountains in the ocean? Seamounts are undersea mountains formed by volcanic activity, and they're typically biological hotspots. For example, on Davidson Seamount in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, researchers with Nautilus Live encountered more than a thousand Muusoctopus octopuses tucked into nooks! Most of the octopuses had their arms inverted in a brooding posture. We love a good octopus garden, but we love an octopus garden on an ocean mountain even more!
Photo: OET/NOAA
Someone call Louis Armstrong! This trumpetfish is using some A+ camouflage to blend in at NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Trumpetfish often remain motionless to fool their prey into getting too close. We bet they wouldn’t fool Louis, though!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Up, up, and away! This little Cassin's auklet is taking flight in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Cassin's auklets are known for foraging for small crustaceans while swimming underwater. They can dive more than 120 feet below the surface!
Photo: Patrick Sysiong
Is this a Pacific white-sided dolphin in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary…or a bird?
Photo: Sage Tezak/NOAA
Wisdom is back in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument! Wisdom is a female Laysan albatross and the oldest known banded bird in the world. At least 69 years old, Wisdom is a world-renowned symbol of hope for all species that depend upon the health of the ocean to survive. Each year, she and her mate Akeakamai return to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the monument to mate, lay an egg, and raise their chick. To date, Wisdom has hatched more than 35 chicks over the course of her life. Welcome back, Wisdom!
Photo: William Kennerley/USFWS
Looking for a way to help corals stay healthy? Make sure you're using a reef-safe sunscreen or use Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) sunwear! Several chemicals in traditional sunscreen can damage and kill corals, and are also harmful to green algae, sea urchins, fish, mussels, and dolphins. Even if you don't live near the ocean, when you shower, the chemicals in sunscreen may wash off and enter our waterways. So by making a small change in your sun protection, you can help support healthy coral reefs!
Photo: Olivia Williamson
Who's that reaching out from the coral reef of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary? A sneaky brittle star! Every August, the reef-building corals within the sanctuary put on one of the most abundant spawning displays in the entire Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Each coral species times its gamete (egg and sperm) release to ensure genetic mixing and that coral larvae can disperse over large distances. The gametes also provide a feast for small animals like this brittle star.
Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA
What's wrong with this picture? These two images show a reef in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa just months before (left) and after (right) a bleaching event. When we burn energy sources like gasoline and coal, we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide acts like a heat-trapping blanket, keeping heat from the sun close to the planet and warming the atmosphere and the ocean. Corals are sensitive to temperature: if the water gets too warm, they expel the colorful algae that they need to survive. This is called bleaching, and if it lasts long enough, the corals can die. But there are things we can do: by working with your community to curb your fossil fuel consumption and reduce other coral stressors, like pollution, you can help protect vibrant coral reefs!
Photo: XL Catlin Seaview Survey/The Ocean Agency
Did you know there are corals in the deep ocean? It's true! Many species of coral thrive in the deep sea, like this Swiftia coral in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The corals position themselves so they can grasp small particles of food from the current, and also provide habitat for other animals like these brittle stars. What other deep-sea dwellers can you spot here?
Photo: OET/NOAA
Happy Corals Week! All week long, we'll be celebrating the beauty and importance of coral reef ecosystems around the world. Stay tuned for some coral-ly awesome facts! This colorful coral structure provides habitat for a variety of species in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Is an eagle by the sea technically a seagull? We’re not shore, but we hope you fly into the new week and the new month like this bald eagle in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Karlyn Langjahr/NOAA
Selfie Saturday! NOAA diver Mitchell Tartt paused for this science selfie while surveying the coral reefs of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Not a bad place to spend a day for work!
Photo: Mitchell Tartt/NOAA
What's the largest bony fish in the ocean? Holy mola - it's the mola mola! This mola mola, also known as an ocean sunfish, was spotted in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Marybeth Head/NOAA
We’ve got the Cali-formula for healthy ecosystems here at NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary! This week we're thankful for the ongoing Kent Island Restoration Project. Hundreds of volunteers have removed 60,000 square feet of invasive plants and restored more than 10 acres of habitat, making room for pollinators, other insects, birds, and more. Learn more about this coastal restoration project and how you can get involved at.
Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA
Star light, star bright, first...ochre star I see today on this beach in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary?
Photo: Anne Mary Schaefer
Yeah, I'm a huge fan. Are you?
Sea fans are closely related to the stony corals that build coral reefs. They orient themselves with the prevailing current so that they can catch tiny food particles. These beautiful invertebrate colonies grow throughout NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
This common dolphin hopes you have a fin-tastic week! These fast and energetic dolphins can be spotted by lucky whale watchers in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
They may be tiny, but krill are mighty! Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that are found throughout national marine sanctuaries, including in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. These little critters are an important food source for fish, seabirds, and whales alike: during feeding season, blue whales eat two to four TONS of krill each day!
Photo: Sophie Webb/NOAA
One fish, two fish...lots and lots and lots of fish! Eelgrass thrives in the shallow waters of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. In addition to providing habitat for fish, eelgrass beds provide shelter to snails, sea stars, anemones, crabs, and clams.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Say hello to our newest national marine sanctuary: Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary! This sanctuary protects over 100 World War I-era wooden shipwrecks, many of which have been partially reclaimed by nature. Learn about our recent community celebration and how you can visit this historic treasure.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
On this day 148 years ago, the schooner E.B. Allen took its last voyage in Lake Huron. While the ship was bound for Buffalo, New York, a thick fog settled over the water. Unable to navigate, E.B. Allen collided with another vessel. Fortunately, all of the ship's crew were rescued and no lives were lost. Today, E.B. Allen lies at about 100 feet beneath the surface, protected by NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: NOAA
Comment below if manatees are your favorite animal! Manatees like those in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary can munch as much as 150 pounds of seagrass per day. These gentle, slow-moving animals are at risk from boat strikes, but conservation efforts are helping them! When you're boating in manatee habitat, always make sure to slow down and keep an eye out.
Photo: Robert Bonde/USGS
Snack time! Seabirds like this Cory's shearwater flock to NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to chow down on fish like sand lance. Their activities help researchers in the sanctuary track the health of fish populations, which in turn indicates how the sanctuary is doing overall.
Photo: Peter Flood
This Risso's dolphin is breakin' free! This species is very active on the ocean surface when they're not diving 1,000 feet deep near the edge of the continental shelf. This one was spotted swimming in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Douglas Croft
29 never looked so fine – happy anniversary to NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary! Protecting over 3,800 square miles and the only barrier coral reef in the continental United States, the sanctuary is home to a plethora of marine wildlife, including this beautiful red grouper. Learn how you can help the sanctuary thrive for the next 29 years and beyond
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
We see silly seals by the sea shore! While Hawaiian monk seals are undeniably adorable, they're also one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet. NOAA Fisheries Service and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument are working hard to help the population recover, but they still remain in critical status.
Photo: Paulo Maurin/NOAA
Raise your hands 🙌 if you love NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary as much as we do!
Photo: Dan Evans Jr.
You knew about seahorses but did you know about sea bunnies? This fluffy-looking nudibranch is called the white-knight dorid and lives in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and elsewhere along the West Coast. Maybe bring a carrot next time you go diving here! (JK, they eat sponges.)
Photo: Chad King/NOAA
Shipwrecks on the ocean floor provide a safe harbor for all sorts of marine life! Here, fish flourish around the wreck of the USS Tarpon, located near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. This U.S. submarine sank in World War II and now rests at a depth of 135 feet. Tarpon is heavily encrusted with coralline algae and other invertebrates, and sand tiger sharks are often spotted here.
Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA
This summer, NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary held a "Vet Into Your Sanctuary" fishing trip to bring U.S. military veterans out to the sanctuary. A total of 22 participants enjoyed an educational and fun fishing day with support from Project Healing Waters. A day on the water with a fishing rod in hand can provide veterans and others with a personal connection to the ocean that can develop to a life-long appreciation and continued stewardship of our underwater parks. We're honored to have been able to provide this opportunity to our veterans – happy Veterans Day!
Photo: Sepp Haukebo
The lagoon triggerfish is also known as the Picasso fish – an apt name for its bright colors. These beautiful reef-dwellers are found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including in Hawai‘i. This one was spotted in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Michelle Smith
Cephalopod Saturday! 🐙💙 This gorgeous octopus was spotted in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary during an expedition with Nautilus Live.
Photo: OET/NOAA
Happy Manatee Awareness Month! Frequent visitors to NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, manatees face threats of habitat loss and watercraft collisions. But it’s not all doom and gloom for these gentle sea cows, as manatee populations have been increasing significantly since conservation efforts began. If you're boating in a known manatee habitat, keep them safe and slow down!
Photo: Bob Bonde/USGS
Sandbar sharks might not be the biggest sharks in the seas, but they are certainly impressive. Sandbar sharks are one shark species spotted at NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, where they tend to stay near the ocean floor. These beautiful sharks prey on fish, mollusks, and small crustaceans. Have you seen one while diving in the sanctuary?
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
I spy with my little eye something…red! Well, red for now. This common octopus in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary can change colors to hide from predators and to surprise prey. Specialized cells called chromatophores in the octopus’s skin allow it to camouflage itself with its surroundings. These clever cephalopods may be hard to play I Spy with, but they’re amazing at Hide and Seek!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
What do you call a fish in space? A starfish! Though you may not actually be able to spot any sea stars in the night sky, many national marine sanctuaries offer beautiful views of dark skies. Here, the Milky Way shines brightly over the Anacapa Island Lighthouse in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Happy birthday to NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! Though thousands of miles apart, both of these sanctuaries offer refuge to humpback whales. Each summer, humpback whales migrate from the Caribbean to Stellwagen Bank off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where they and other whales feast on the food that flourishes in sanctuary waters. And in the Pacific, humpback whales journey to the warm waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands each winter to mate, calve, and raise their young.
Top photo: Jeremy Winn; bottom photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Fisheries Permit 14682-38079
Happy Jellyfish Day! These baby fish are celebrating by hanging out in the bell of a moon jelly in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. What's your favorite species of jellyfish to see in your national marine sanctuaries?
Photo: Tiffany Pixie Duong/Ocean Rebels
A whale watcher's treat: Moments after a 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck California near NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary last month, these humpback whales went into a breaching extravaganza. While it's not possible to say for sure, the whales were likely responding to the noise that occurred underwater during the earthquake.
Photo: Douglas Croft
We’re manatee-ing off Manatee Awareness Month with this big flex. Manatees are large, slow-moving herbivores that reside in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in the winter. Unfortunately, manatees are listed as a federally threatened species, largely as a result of collisions with boats. Remember to always slow down when boating in areas known to have manatees!
Photo: Keith Ramos/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Congratulations to Bruce Sudweeks, first place winner of the Sanctuary Life category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Life often flourishes on shipwrecks: here, fish swim around a tugboat located near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Bruce Sudweeks
Congrats to Tiffany Pixie Duong for capturing first place in the Sanctuary Views category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Her photo brings Molasses Reef in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary alive on the screen. What invertebrates can you spot?
Photo: Tiffany Duong/Ocean Rebels
This turtle-y awesome picture from Olivia Williamson swam right into 1st place for the Sanctuary Recreation category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! This diver got a treat when a green sea turtle swam by in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Scuba diving is one of the best ways to explore our beautiful national marine sanctuaries. When swimming near wildlife, always give them plenty of space. Don't follow animals, cut off their path, or get between mothers and young; rather, watch quietly like this diver is doing. Learn more about responsible recreation.
Photo: Olivia Williamson
Ooh, barracuda! Mike Johnson's photograph of two barracuda in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary takes 2nd place in the Sanctuary Life category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Barracuda are highly effective ambush hunters with two sets of razor-sharp teeth. Mike waited for 45 minutes, hovering just off the seafloor, for these barracuda to approach close enough to get a stunning photo that wouldn't disturb them.
Photo: Mike Johnson
Take a trip to Bowling Ball Beach in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary! Congratulations to Anne Mary Schaefer for this stunning photo, which placed 2nd in the "Sanctuary Views" category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest.
Photo: Anne Mary Schaefer
2nd place in our Sanctuary Recreation category for the Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest goes to Keith C. Flood! Keith photographed these divers exploring the Florida shipwreck at 200 feet of water in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The steamer Florida sank in 1897 after a collision with the steamer George W. Roby, which nearly cut the ship in half. Today, the wreck sits awaiting exploration by advanced divers.
Photo: Keith C. Flood
Lunch time! Thanks to Douglas Croft Images, this hungry humpback whale lunged its way right into 3rd place in the Sanctuary Life category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest. One way humpback whales get their meals is by lunge feeding, when they rush up to the surface with open mouths and swallow mouthfuls of fish. Congratulations to Douglas for such an amazing NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary photo!
Photo: Douglas Croft
Congratulations to Dustin Harris, whose photo of an island fox watching the sunset in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary placed third in the "Sanctuary Views" category! Island foxes are only found on California's Channel Islands and nowhere else in the world. They're the largest of the islands' native land mammals, but one of the smallest canid species in the world.
Photo: Dustin Harris
Today's our anniversary, and we're celebrating by kicking off the announcement of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest winners! Placing third in the "Sanctuary Recreation" category is Anne Mary Schaefer, with this paw-fect walk on the beach in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Congratulations, Anne Mary!
Photo: Anne Mary Schaefer
Don't let the spikes fool you! While their cousins the sea urchins are covered with long, hard spines, sea cucumbers like this one in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa are actually covered with soft, leathery skin.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Sing it with us (and this humpback whale): Happy birthday to the Marine Mammal Protection Act! Enacted on this day in 1972, this important piece of legislation helps us protect animals like this humpback whale in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The act ensures that marine mammals like whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters, and dolphins can carry out their normal lives without disruption – and without the threat of hunting, poaching, or exploitation.
Photo: Carolyn O'Connor
Citizen science isn't just for people anymore! This Muusoctopus octopus hopped aboard Nautilus Live's ROV Hercules last week to get a better look. Hercules was exploring a whale fall in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuarythat was being scavenged by octopuses, fish, and other animals. The octopus crawled along Hercules' sampling vessels before presumably going back to eat some more. A whale fall – the carcass of a whale that has sunk to the seafloor – can feed communities of organisms for months or years.
Photo: OET/NOAA
Lift off into the weekend like these beautiful cormorants in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Dan Evans Jr.
This isn't exactly how this rockfish imagined starting off its weekend. Last week, researchers with Nautilus Live got a surprise when exploring NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. This sea star was attempting to eat a rockfish – sushi dinner?
Photo: OET/NOAA
Scientists aboard the E/V Nautilus got a treat yesterday when they came across a whale fall in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! When whales die at sea, they sink to the seafloor where they can feed other organisms for years. There, the whale carcass or skeleton is known as a whale fall. The Nautilus Live team found this whale fall at a depth of 10,623 feet while exploring Davidson Seamount, an underwater mountain. The whale skeleton is lying on its back and is an estimated 13 to 16 feet in length. The team is working to identify the species, but it is confirmed to be a baleen whale. Look closely and you can see Muusoctopus octopuses and other marine animals!
Photo: OET/NOAA
Loch Ness Monster? Not at all – it's a gray seal in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary! While gray seals may appear approachable in the wild, human interference is a major threat to these marine mammals. Fishing entanglements, watercraft strikes, and interactions with humans put them at risk. Help protect gray seals by keeping a safe distance and not approaching them too close on land or on water.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Finding new friends in unlikely places! This flapjack octopus and rockfish were spotted cozying up in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary during a recent Nautilus Live dive.
Photo: OET/NOAA
We don't know about you, but we're pretty sure this sea lion in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary just realized it's Monday.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Grumpy that you missed last week's Nautilus Live expedition in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary? We've got you covered – this week we'll be exploring the deep waters of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Tune in at nautiluslive.org.
Photo: OET/NOAA
There's nothing quite like a sunrise at sea. Where are you finding beauty this weekend?
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Octopus, or coral? This day octopus (he‘e in Hawaiian) in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is showing off its excellent camouflage skills. Octopuses and other cephalopods have specialized cells called chromatophores that allow them to change their colors; plus, they can change the texture of their skin to mimic the environment around them! This camouflage helps them go unseen by both predators and prey.
Photo: James Watt/NOAA
This octopus wants to know: have you been following the E/V Nautilus expedition in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary? We're exploring the deep waters of these national marine sanctuaries with Nautilus Live, and you can watch the expedition in real time at nautiluslive.org! Tune in for the chance to see adorable octopuses and more.
Photo: OET/NOAA
We're not squidding around when we say we love cephalopods! Photographer Alexander Neufeld describes his encounter with this beautiful reef squid in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary this way: "A reef squid in the black waters off of Key Largo during a night dive. Several squid joined us during a portion of the dive, hovering just below the surface, which allowed for the reflection of the squid's body in the final image. Once the squid had enough of us, it took off in a cloud of ink."
Photo: Alexander Neufeld
We have some whale-y good news: the first humpback whale of the season has been spotted in Hawai‘i! Thousands of humpback whales return to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary each year to breed, give birth, and nurse their young. If you're in Hawai‘i – or anywhere else near the ocean – always make sure to give whales and other marine life plenty of space.
While this photo isn't this year's first whale, but rather a past visitor to the sanctuary, we hope to have photos soon!
Photo: NOAA, under NOAA Permit #782-1438
Cordell Bank rises from deep, dark waters off the coast of California – and is home to a technicolor array of marine life! Here, hundreds of widow rockfish swim through NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary above bright invertebrates. Can you name the pink anemones growing on the bank?
Photo: Robert Lee/BAUE
Rose Atoll Marine National Monument rests within the waters of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. It's known for its striking rosy reefs, which get their hue from pink coralline algae. These beautiful reefs are home to more than 100 species of coral, as well as large populations of giant clam, reef fish, and more.
Photo: Mark Manuel/NOAA
Sometimes even sea lions need to kick back and soak up some sun with their buddies. These sea lions found a buoy in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to hang out on. Where are you relaxing this weekend?
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
“Hey everybody, party at NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary tonight! Tell the whole school!” Hoping your Friday night plans are as fun as these Atlantic spadefish's.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Phillips
10/10 points for orca acrobatics! This breaching orca is showing off its black and white patterning in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. An orca's high-contrast patterning helps obscure the outline of its body underwater so it's harder for prey to recognize it.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Take a deep dive into history with NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary! The first national marine sanctuary ever designated in the U.S., this small sanctuary protects the wreck of the USS Monitor. Monitor is distinguished by being the first ironclad war vessel to fight for the United States – during the Civil War, it faced off with the Confederate CSS Virginia. It later sank in a storm off the coast of North Carolina, and today it rests on the seafloor, a memorial to those who were lost and a haven for sea life.
Photo: NOAA
Blenny for your thoughts! What do you think this seaweed blenny in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is thinking?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Monday morning's got us dreaming of our adventures from this weekend! Plan your next paddle or swim.
Photo: Bryan Dort
Meet the giant clam, also known as faisua in Samoan! These beautiful clams can be spotted in the coral reefs of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Once nestled into a location on the reef, a giant clam will remain stationary throughout its life. Like corals, giant clams have developed symbiotic partnerships with algae called zooxanthellae. In return for shelter, zooxanthellae provide giant clams with nutrients they've photosynthesized – and help give the clam's mantle its pretty colors.
Photo: NPS
So, uh, was anyone going to tell us that northern elephant seals are WAY bigger than sea otters, or were we supposed to find that out ourselves?
Photo: Phil Arnold
Whale, whale, whale – it's World Tourism Day! Your national marine sanctuaries are the perfect place for ocean adventures. Whether you're a fan of whale watching in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary or tide pooling in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, there's something for everyone. Find your adventure.
Photo: K. Grosskruetz/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240
Today is World Environmental Health Day. The environments of the ocean – from coral reefs to kelp forests – depend on us to help keep them healthy. We can all do our part, whether it's through reducing our use of plastics or working with our communities to reduce our carbon footprints. What will you do today, tomorrow, and the next day to help protect our blue planet?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Happy anniversary to NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary! This jewel of the Great Lakes protects the wrecks of more than 100 vessels that have been claimed by fire, ice, collisions, and storms. The sanctuary serves as a museum of the Great Lakes' maritime history. You can explore the many shipwrecks by diving, snorkeling, and paddling – and if you'd rather not get your feet wet, you can experience history at the many lighthouses that dot the sanctuary's shores.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
You otter believe this sea otter is having an otterly delicious snack! Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Jessie Hale studies sea otters in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. She got a treat when she spotted this female otter chowing down on a lingcod egg mass.
Photo: Jessie Hale
It's Sea Otter Awareness Week, and these sea otters in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary want to know if you're aware of them! When you're exploring your national marine sanctuaries, make sure to keep an eye on your distance from wildlife like sea otters. Though they are otterly adorable, they'll be safer and healthier if you give them plenty of space.
Douglas Croft
Happy anniversary to NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! This southern California sanctuary encompasses 1,470 square miles off of Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, and Santa Rosa islands. It protects everything from deep-sea coral communities to lush kelp forest. Nearshore, giant kelp helps support immense biodiversity – visitors can see sea lions, giant sea bass, and more!
Photo: Brett Seymour/NPS
Today is the International Coastal Cleanup! Whether you're participating in an official clean-up event or just picking up trash in your neighborhood, let us know how you're helping keep the ocean clean today. Here, two volunteers from Blue Kahuna Surf help remove marine debris from NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Jessica Hogan
These American white pelicans are celebrating Estuaries Week in style! Estuaries are locations where rivers meet the sea. Located in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Elkhorn Slough is one of California's great estuaries. Flushed by ocean tides in the heart of Monterey Bay, its waterways, mudflats, and marsh support a huge diversity of wildlife. Estuaries like Elkhorn Slough provide food, shelter, migration stopovers, and places to breed for many animals. However, they're also quite delicate and need our help to ensure they remain thriving ecosystems. Learn more about estuaries and how you can support them.
Photo: Douglas Croft
What happens to trash after it flows down a creek or falls off a vessel at sea? Usually, it stays in the ocean for a long, long time. There, it can choke animals who mistake it for food, or entangle animals and drown them. This huge conglomeration of fishing nets and other trash was removed from French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument by NOAA Marine Debris and partners. Since 1996, they have removed 1017 tons of debris the remote expanses of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which is about the same weight as nine blue whales! You can help keep debris out of the sea by participating in a cleanup this weekend for the International Coastal Cleanup, or any other day of the year.
Photo: Koa Matsuoka
This humpback whale is lunging out of the ocean to wish NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary a very happy birthday! 🐋🎂 And also, of course, to get a mouthful of fish, because what's a celebration without snacks? This iconic sanctuary protects 36 species of marine mammals, more than 180 species of seabirds and shorebirds, 525 species of fish, and a multitude of invertebrates and algae. How many can you name?
Photo: Douglas Croft
Eyes of a hawk, and ears of a...fish?
Stocky hawkfish are known as po‘opa‘a in Hawaiian. In the coral reefs of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, they linger atop corals and survey their surroundings for prey, much like their terrestrial namesake. As an added level of protection, a stocky hawkfish’s pectoral fins are resistant to the stinging cells of fire corals, which normally harm other organisms upon contact. Well played, hawkfish. Well played.
Photo: James Watt/NOAA
Oh buoy! This drill team is hard at work installing new mooring buoys in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Buoys allow boaters to enjoy their time out on the water without damaging the coral reef and seagrass bed ecosystems that lie beneath them. Buoys serve as as an alternative to anchoring, which is prohibited in waters less than 40 feet deep, and can also be used as markers relaying specific information about the area.
Photo: NOAA
This sea star traveling on a sea urchin in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary would like to share an underwater hitchhiking pro-tip: if it moves, it's transportation!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Whale, whale, whale, what do we have here?
Whale watchers in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary got a surprise visit from a gray newborn orca calf traveling with 10 members of the transient orca pod known as the CA216 family. While most orcas are black and white, little is known about the uncommon gray pigment of this youngster. The science is clear on one thing – this newborn is 100% adorable!
Photo: Douglas Croft
In addition to being markers of our maritime past, shipwrecks are home to a vast number of marine species – like these frilled anemones on the wreck of the Portland in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Next week, researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Marine Imaging Technologies will be visiting Portland and other shipwrecks to assess the state of the wrecks. They'll be livestreaming their expedition, and you can tune in while they journey deep beneath the ocean's surface! Leran more abouth this expedition.
Photo: NOAA
Some days you just have to lie down, wrap yourself in kelp, and nap the day away. It's all part of that pawsitive self care.
Photo: Douglas Croft
From tragedy to new life: sunk by a German U-boat during World War II, the American cargo ship Caribsea is now host to a vibrant reef not far from NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. The wreck is largely intact and is now a popular dive site.
Photo: NOAA
Strange but true: leather sea stars, like this one in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, smell like garlic! That's why they're also sometimes known as garlic stars. Have you ever gotten a whiff of one in your national marine sanctuaries?
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Mondays are for maritime history, and NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary has got lots of it! D.M. Wilson, pictured here, is one of the many wrecks sitting at the bottom of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron. In 1894, the wooden ship was headed for Milwaukee with its usual shipment of coal when a leak stopped it in its tracks. Despite attempts to tow it to safety, the ship sank near Thunder Bay Island. Today, divers can see most of the Wilson’s hull, which remains largely intact!
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Us: Hey, wanna hear a joke?
Gray seal in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: sure
Us: Why do seals swim in salt water?
Gray seal: …
Us: …
Because pepper water makes them sneeze!
Gray seal: *face palm*
Don’t tell gray seals sealy jokes. Instead, earn your seal of approval by keeping a safe distance from them to protect them from human disturbances.
Photo: Anne Smrcina/NOAA
How would you caption this photo of a pair of masked boobies in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument?
Photo: Lindsey Kramer/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Seas the day with our National Marine Sanctuary System! Like this group of visitors enjoying a morning yoga session on the shores of Second Beach in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary there is an opportunity for everyone to experience our sanctuaries.
Photo: Karlyn Langjahr/NOAA
What bottom dwelling marine critter found in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary does this suspicious eye belong to? Leave a comment below with your guess, and we'll have the answer for you later today!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Happy National Wildlife Day! Not only are we celebrating our sanctuary wildlife, but also the partnerships that exist between many of them. In Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, sea turtles like these two get routine clean-ups from grazing reef fish at “cleaning stations” found along the reefs. The fish keep the sea turtles free of algae and other organisms that live on them, while the reef fish get a snack! A win-win situation if you ask us.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
My, what big teeth you have! Sand tiger sharks like this one can often be spotted on the wrecks of the Graveyard of the Atlantic, near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. But never fear – though their teeth make them look fearsome, sand tiger sharks are typically docile near divers.
Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA
Like the sun setting over Southeast Farallon Island in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, our photo contest is coming to a close. The Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest closes at the end of the day, so now's the time to submit those last few photos!
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Seen any cool nudibranchs lately, like this Spanish shawl nudibranch in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary? Now's the perfect time to submit your photos to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest!
Photo: Cindy Shaw
When is a whale not a whale? When it's a whale shark! While whales are mammals, whale sharks are actually fish, named for their vast size. Like some whales, they are also filter feeders, chowing down on plankton. During the summer months, whale sharks travel to NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico to find this favorite food.
Photo: Kevin Lino/NOAA
Going on a coastal getaway this Labor Day weekend? Show our ocean and Great Lakes some love by leaving no trace when visiting, and helping out with a beach clean up if you can! Collective efforts to keep our water bodies a cleaner, better place, like these two volunteers are doing in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, is shore to be a crowd pleaser!
Photo: Karlyn Langjahr/NOAA
Nothing hits the spot like a midday nap, especially for sea otters! Due to their high metabolism, sea otters – like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – have to eat and rest a lot as part of their daily routine. As otterly adorable as they are, it’s important to keep a safe viewing distance when coming across a sea otter in the wild so you don't interrupt the time they need to take care of themselves. Keep sea otters safe and undisturbed by respecting their space, and their naps!
Photo: Cat Harper
We're o-fish-ally in the last week of the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! Remember to submit your best photos of sanctuary wildlife, scenery, and recreation by September 2nd.
Photo: Steve Miller
Witnessing the spectacular wildlife of our national marine sanctuaries – like this humpback whale in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary – is always whaley exciting! It’s important to keep a safe viewing distance to make sure the wildlife aren’t disturbed by our admiration. In Hawai’i, whales cannot be approached closer than 100 yards, which protects humpback whales and whale watchers alike.
Photo: NOAA, under NOAA Fisheries Permit #782-1438
Incoming!
Brown pelicans like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary are master divers. A brown pelican can plunge into the water from as high as 60 feet above the surface.. Then it's able to scoop up surprised fish into its throat pouch – a handy meal!
Photo: Douglas Croft
Hear ye, hear ye! Calling photographers of all skill levels – submit your best photos of our National Marine Sanctuary System’s scenery, wildlife, and recreation to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! Submissions are open until September 2nd.
Photo: Daryl Duda
Animal or plant? Both the feathery object and the coils in this photo may look like plants (or something otherworldly) but they're actually animals! Researchers from the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary witnessed this reef at Alderdice Bank in the Gulf of Mexico. The feathery creature is a feather black coral, while the coils are known as sea whip corals. Both feed on plankton that is swept by in the current!
This photo is from an ongoing expedition that is livestreaming dives from areas in and around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Tune in and learn more.
Photo: GFOE/NOAA
Keep your friends close, and your anemones further away! Sea anemones – like this one found in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – are close relatives of coral and jellyfish. While their brightly colored tentacles are a beautiful sight, they are actually venomous and are used for capturing prey. Most species are benign to humans, but keeping your hands to yourself protects both you and the animal. Don't make an enemy of a sea anemone!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Sea lion in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary once it realizes it’s not supposed to be flying: ...AAAHHH!
Photo: Dru Devlin/NOAA
NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects one of the most iconic ocean places in the world. But these important ocean habitats are in jeopardy of being “loved to death.” To survive for future generations, the Keys need to change, and there’s no time to lose. The sanctuary is proposing a new Restoration Blueprint, and we want to hear from you.
Photo: Shawn Verne
Now presenting the rosy palace of Rose Atoll, located in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! The reef at Rose Atoll gets its pink hues from crustose coralline algae, an unassuming friend of the coral reef ecosystem. While corals lay down their own stony skeleton, crustose coralline algae crust over and between the structures to help cement them together, forming a reef. Can you name a more iconic duo?
Photo: J. Kenyon/NOAA
We have an announcement: we've decided that this Facebook account will now be a succulent appreciation account.
Just kidding! This isn't a plant – it's a white-lined nudibranch. Nudibranchs, like this one found in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, are sea slugs that often come in striking colors and forms. While they may look like they're making a fashion statement, nudibranchs often depend on their brilliant colors as defense from predators.
Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA
We’re a big fan of deep-sea fans! This fan coral and its fish friends were found at a depth of about 100 meters in the Santa Cruz Canyon, part of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Unlike their shallow-water relatives, deep sea corals don’t need sunlight to thrive; instead, they obtain energy and nutrients by trapping tiny organisms that pass through the water. Pretty fan-tastic if you ask us!
Photo: Marine Applied Research and Technology
Winter flounder in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: “How does my new cloak of invisibility look?”
Us: You tried.
Photo: Deborah Marx/NOAA
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the...lake? That’s right! Sailing, kayaking, or even paddling a traditional Mackinaw boat are among the many ways you can explore the maritime history and natural wonder of NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located in Lake Huron. There are recreational activities available for visitors of all skill levels! So, water you waiting for?
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
A day octopus – or he’e mauli in Hawaiian – sits pretty at French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Many cephalopods have special cells in their skin tissue called chromatophores that enable them to change color very rapidly. A part of their neuromuscular system, these cells receive signals from the environment that an octopus can use to inform color change. Octopodes of this particular species can change color almost instantly as they move over their environment, making them nearly invisible to predators!
Photo: Andrew Gray/NOAA
Let your photography skills glow like this anemone in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by submitting to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! Just a few more weeks to send in your photos.
Photo: Nathan Coyle
Just two sea star friends hanging out in an NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary tide pool. Tag your favorite tide pool buddy!
Photo: Shawn Sheltren/NPS
Have you heard the news? There's a brand new national marine sanctuary! Located in the tidal Potomac River, Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary protects a historic collection of shipwrecks. These shipwrecks in turn serve as habitat for many different animals, museums of our maritime past, and classrooms for students of all ages.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
For World Lion Day, we're bringing you the lions of the sea: Indo Pacific lionfish. As their name suggests, these fish are native to the Indo Pacific region, and are part of the food web in coral reefs in that area. In recent decades, though, these fish have been found in coral reefs throughout the southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean – including in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Experts speculate that people have been dumping unwanted lionfish into the ocean for the last 25 years or more.
In their newfound habitats, lionfish don't have natural predators – plus, they have voracious appetites and reproduce quickly. This may spell trouble for biodiversity in coral reefs. a group of 1,000 lionfish can consume 5 million prey fish in a single year! NOAA and our partners are working to understand and control this invasive species with new traps, lionfish derbies, and more. You can help by asking restaurants near you to serve lionfish, and learn more here.
Photo: Bess Bright
Are you spending your summer exploring your national marine sanctuaries? Don't forget to submit your photos to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! We're accepting photos in three categories – Sanctuary Life, Sanctuary Views, and Sanctuary Recreation – through Labor Day weekend.
Photo: Douglas Croft
Are you spending your summer exploring your national marine sanctuaries? Don't forget to submit your photos to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! We're accepting photos in three categories – Sanctuary Life, Sanctuary Views, and Sanctuary Recreation – through Labor Day weekend.
Photo: Michael Beattie
Sometimes it can be hard for maritime archaeologists to document shipwrecks because of all the fish! Here, NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary archaeologist Will Sassorossi and NOAA Ship Nancy Foster's navigation officer ENS Sara Thompson explore the shipwreck of the USS Schurz, which sank during World War I off the coast of North Carolina. Shipwrecks like the USS Schurz have a second life beneath the waves as artificial reefs. Invertebrates like anemones and corals may attach to the wreck surface, while fish like the many seen here shelter and feed around the wreck.
Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA
If the moon and the stars became part of the deep-sea of NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, this is what they would look like. *Cue Twilight Zone music.*
Photo: NOAA
How important is water quality to our marine and freshwater ecosystems? Important enough that we dedicate a month to celebrate it! August is National Water Quality Month. Our national marine sanctuaries depend on clean water to ensure that biological diversity, coastal scenery, and recreational and commercial opportunities thrive. During “Snapshot Day” in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, hundreds of citizen science volunteers aid in water quality efforts, assessing rivers, streams, and other coastal California watersheds.
Photo: Christina Muegge
Gain a new perspective by visiting a national marine sanctuary near you! In NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, you can explore the mysterious sea caves that line the sanctuary or catch a whale watching tour. As we wrap up Get Into Your Sanctuary weekend, be sure to enter any sanctuary photos you love into the 2019 “Get into Your Sanctuary” photo contest
Photo: Sarah Raskin
Dive into our nation's maritime history and marine wonders with one of the many events taking place this weekend for Get Into Your Sanctuary!
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Are you joining us this weekend for Get Into Your Sanctuary days? Starting today through the weekend, we'll be holding events all across the country to celebrate the National Marine Sanctuary System. You don't have to be a scuba diver or a surfer to dive into the wonders of your national marine sanctuaries!
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Ever wonder what it might be like to have a sixth sense? Sharks have that covered! Specialized organs called ampullae of Lorenzini help these stealthy hunters detect small electrical fields released by other animals. That way, sharks can sense their prey even if it's buried in the sand or in murky water. Hammerhead sharks – like this one in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary – have an especially large number of these ampullae on their broad head.
Photo: Mitchell Tartt/NOAA
Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the sleepiest shark of them all?
Nurse sharks! These nocturnal bottom dwellers prefer to take it easy during daylight hours in caves and dark crevices. At night, nurse sharks scout the seafloor for crustaceans, mollusks, and other low-lying prey. This one was spotted in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Bonus points if you can spot the eel hanging out near this shark!
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Meow!
This filetail catshark – found at a depth of 470 meters in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – is indeed 100 percent shark. However, it has light-sensitive eyes similar to that of cats, which helps it hunt for fish and squid in the deep, dark waters that it lives in.
Photo: Kevin L. Stierhoff/NOAA
*Cue Jaws music*
This Laysan albatross, or mōlī, in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is in for a surprise. Tiger sharks like this one are voracious predators, much like their terrestrial namesake, and are known to take a bite out of just about anything that catches their attention. Though they can be frightening, sharks like the tiger shark are incredibly important animals in ocean environments. Sharks help remove dead or decaying debris from the ocean, and thereby help keep our ocean clean, while also helping to keep ecosystems in balance.
Photo: Ilana Nimz/NOAA
Hey...hey you…you know what week it is? It’s Shark Week! 🦈🦈🦈
For the next few days we’ll be sinking our teeth into the importance of sharks in our National Marine Sanctuary System. Caribbean reef sharks in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary play an important role as apex predators of smaller reef fish, and help maintain a healthy balance in the marine food web. What shark species are you looking forward to learning about this week?
Photo: Alexander Neufeld
No one said riding the waves in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary was going to be easy! The important thing is to try, and get back up after you get knocked down. 😊 Check out some of the best surf spots in the National Marine Sanctuary System
Photo: Kate Thompson/NOAA
Ride into the weekend like this shrimp hitching a ride on a jelly in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Just how big are humpback whales? Consider the humpback whale tail, or flukes. From tip to tip, it can be 18 feet across!
Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240
Cephalopods octopi our hearts! This Caribbean two-spot octopus was spotted hanging around the coral cap in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. 🐙💙
Photo: GP Schmahl/NOAA
Jelly of this amazing photo? There's still time to submit your photos to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! We're accepting photos in three categories – Sanctuary Life, Sanctuary Views, and Sanctuary Recreation – through September 2. We can't wait to see the National Marine Sanctuary System through your eyes!
Photo: Michael Alyono
Happy birthday to NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary! This amazing Pacific Northwest spot protects everything from shoreline tide pools to deep-sea canyons. Today, the sanctuary turns 25 years old!
Photo: The Ocean Agency
"I spend so much time outdoors and am always very careful to leave it as I found it, or better than I found it. I also became dive certified a few years ago so I could not only explore 'beneath the surface' but also help with clean-up efforts." – Jackie Krawczak, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary volunteer
What inspires you about the ocean and Great Lakes?
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Saturday afternoon nap? Don't mind if we do! Are you taking inspiration from this northern elephant seal in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary?
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Take wing to the newest national marine sanctuary: Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary! Located on the tidal Potomac River, this brand-new addition to the National Marine Sanctuary System protects a series of shipwrecks, which in turn serve as habitat for animals like this osprey.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
We're considering a new national marine sanctuary in Lake Ontario, and we want to hear what you think! There are two more weeks to submit a comment about the proposed national marine sanctuary, which would protect historically-significant shipwrecks. Learn more about the proposal and how to comment.
Photo: NOAA
Looking for an adventure this summer? Join us for Get Into Your Sanctuary Days! From August 2 through 4, sites across the National Marine Sanctuary System will be holding events for our fifth national "Get Into Your Sanctuary" celebration.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Overheard in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary:
Western gull chick: Feed me! Feed me! Feed me!
Adult gull:
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Can you spot the octopus? 🐙 Look closely and you might spot a little cephalopod among the many invertebrates of NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Clinton Bauder/BAUE
Happy Shark Awareness Day! Whale sharks are the biggest shark – and the biggest fish – in the ocean. These massive sharks are filter feeders, consuming tiny zooplankton. Like many shark species, whale sharks have hundreds of teeth, but theirs are tiny, pointed backwards, and thought to have no role at all in feeding. Lucky divers can spot these gentle giants in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Sam Farkas
"Uh oh. Did I leave the stove on?" This Garibaldi in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is pretty sure it forgot something important...
Photo: Beata Lerman
Ride the waves into the weekend in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary! Which beach are you visiting this weekend?
Photo: Jennifer Stock/NOAA
You don’t have to be a scuba diver to enjoy the kelp forests of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! Kayak tours are one way to adventure around the sanctuary, where you can paddle around sea caves and above the giant kelp forests with a birds-eye view of the underwater world beneath you.
Photo: Anna Jacobson/Channel Islands Adventure Company
Don’t you just love a healthy coral reef? NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa protects critical reef-building coral species, like these staghorn corals. Healthy coral reefs provide habitat for a wide variety of marine organisms, all the while protecting shorelines from large waves and storms.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Do you have some glamour shots of your National Marine Sanctuary System? Consider sending in your best shots for the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! This opalescent nudibranch found in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was submitted in last year’s contest. Photos will be accepted through September 2.
Photo: Arial Bauman
BIG NEWS: Today, along with the state of Maryland and Charles County, we're announcing the designation of a new national marine sanctuary to protect the remains of more than 100 abandoned steamships and vessels built as part of America’s engagement in World War I. Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., is the first national marine sanctuary designated since 2000.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Each year, literal tons of garbage washes up on the shores of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. There, it threatens animals including juvenile Laysan albatross, who may eat plastic pieces or get entangled in derelict fishing nets. NOAA works to clean up this trash to keep wildlife safe – since 1996, the marine debris team has removed 1.9 million pounds of derelict fishing gear and other garbage from the monument!
Photo: Ryan Tabata/NOAA
Overheard at NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary open mic:
“When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s *gasps*...a moray.”
Caption the reaction of the fish hiding behind the sea fan.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Trash and animals don't mix well! Do you know what to do if you spot a marine mammal in distress?
First off, don't try to approach or disentangle the animal yourself. Wild animals – especially scared ones – can be volatile, and may injure you or themselves. Instead, contact your local stranding network so that trained professionals can safely help the animal in distress. If you're in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where this fur seal was spotted, contact The Marine Mammal Center hotline (San Francisco Bay Area: 415-289-7325; Monterey or Santa Cruz Counties: 831-633-6298; San Luis Obispo County: 805-771-8300).
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
We’re celebrating stars (and stripes) today! #IndependenceDay is one of the most popular beach days of the year, but litter also follows large crowds onto our shores. Luckily, you can enjoy the salt, sand, and sun while being a steward of your local marine environment. By reducing your use of single-use plastics and leaving no trace when packing up for the day, you can help preserve our beaches and ocean for marine life, and make your visit a more enjoyable one! Bonus points if you set aside some time to clean up other parts of the beach.
What beach are you visiting today?
Photo: Nancy Sefton
Ever wondered what paradise looks like? Well look no further! The beaches and coasts of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa are truly a sight to sea. However, marine debris not only threatens the diverse wildlife protected by the sanctuary, but it can also be an eyesore for those who admire these beautiful and culturally-significant landscapes. When celebrating Independence Day, keep in mind that trash travels! You can help preserve our national marine sanctuaries by cleaning up after yourself and encouraging those around you to do the same.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Bereef it or not, every year around 8 million metric tons of plastic make their way into our ocean! Trash that is left behind on shores and beaches are often swept into the ocean by high tides and wind, and can travel thousands of miles once it enters the water. Even deep ecosystems far from shore, like this one in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, can be impacted plastic pollution. If you're visiting a beach this week for the Fourth of July, help keep our ocean clean and reefs healthy by joining a beach clean up, or take the lead and organize one!
Photo: Robert Lee/BAUE
Don’t be in breach of ocean etiquette! This week, we’ll be celebrating the red, white, and blue with Clean Beaches Week to protect and preserve our ocean and Great Lakes and all of their inhabitants, such as the humpback whales of NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Due to their feeding methods, whales and other cetaceans are vulnerable to encounters with marine plastic floating through their habitats. By keeping our beaches trash free and leaving no trace behind when we enjoy our shores, we’re also helping protect marine life down the line!
Photo: Anne Smrcina/NOAA
Whale you know what they say, the best things in life come when you’re not looking for them! That’s exactly what happened with whale watchers in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary recently when they had some surprise visitors. A pod of rare Baird’s beaked whales were spotted swimming in the area, including some calves. The elusive whales are usually found far out at sea, and likely traveled to Monterey Bay following food, like squid and fish.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
A fairy is among us! A fairy tern chick, that is. Known as manu-o-kū in Hawaiian, fairy terns are native to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, including Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Unlike most seabirds, fairy terns lay their eggs directly onto a surface like a tree branch or cliff ledge, rather than building a traditional nest! When the chicks hatch, they use their sturdy claws to grip onto the surface, which helps them weather even the strongest winds and storms.
Photo: Koa Matsuoka
Introducing the red Irish lord of NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary: a master of disguise, professional ambush predator, and in desperate need of some lip balm.
Photo: Katy Laveck Foster
Sink into some maritime history with NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary! The USS Monitor, pictured here, was the first ironclad warship in the Union army. In 1862 in the throes of the Civil War, Monitor led the Union into battle against the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads. While the battle ultimately resulted in a draw, it marked the end of an era for wooden warships! Later that year, the USS Monitor met its fateful end off the coast of North Carolina during a treacherous storm, along with 16 brave members of its crew. Over a century later when the shipwreck was discovered, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was designated as the first national marine sanctuary in the United States to protect our maritime heritage.
Photo: NOAA
Humpback whales aren’t the only ones that enjoy the waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! The sanctuary is also the perfect spot for responsible recreation. This surfer is riding the famous “Pipeline,” or “Pipe,” wave break on O’ahu’s North Shore, one of the most powerful (and dangerous) surf spots in the world. Have you surfed in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary or other sanctuaries?
Photo: Walker Langley
A visitor from the north! Photographer Douglas Croft snapped this photo of transient orca T165 in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary back in April. T165 and his family usually range in the waters of British Columbia and Alaska, and this was their first recorded visit to Monterey Bay.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
"Did someone say it's snack time?" This black-crowned night heron was spotted resting in a tree on the coast of NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, possibly wondering if it's time for to go eat yet. These herons typically feed between evening and early morning, which helps them avoid competition with other heron species.
Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA
When gray seals and other seals hang out in the water upright like this one, they're said to be "bottling." Gray seals are often spotted within NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, where – between rests – they feed on fish, crustaceans, squid, and sometimes even small seabirds. While gray seals may appear approachable in the wild, human interference is a major threat to these marine mammals. Fishing entanglements, watercraft strikes, and interactions with humans put them at risk. Help protect gray seals by keeping a safe distance and not approaching them too close on land or on water.
Photo: Anne Smrcina/NOAA
10/10 points for acrobatics and style for this humpback whale in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
While you're relaxing and having fun in your national marine sanctuaries this summer, don't forget to snap some photos and send them into the Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! This photo of a paddleboarder relaxing over the shipwreck Albany in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary was a 2018 "Sanctuary Portraits" submission. What photos will you send in?
Photo: Bryan Dort
In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma tore through NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, carrying large amounts of marine debris into the ocean. In response, the sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation launched Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys to help professional dive shops lead underwater cleanup efforts in the sanctuary. In its first year, the initiative removed more than 18,000 pounds of marine debris from sanctuary waters!
Photo: Jack Fishman
Looking for adventure this summer? Look no further than your national marine sanctuaries! Whether you prefer kayaking in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary or tide pooling in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, we have something for everyone.
Photo: Sienna Streamfellow
Octopus in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, who has places to be, other cephalopods to see: "Hey, do you mind? I’m a little octopied here!"
Every summer in recent years, we've teamed up with Nautilus Live to explore and map areas of our national marine sanctuaries. This octopus was one of many curious and exciting marine critters that we spotted in Cordell Bank in 2017!
Photo: OET/NOAA
Is it a plant? A coral? An extraterrestrial life form?
If you said none of the above, you’re correct! This crinoid in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is a marine animal related to sea stars and sea urchins. Many crinoids can attach themselves to a hard surface, and use their feathery pinnules to catch plankton from the water.
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Wisdom might get all the attention for being the world’s oldest known banded bird that has raised around 35 chicks in her lifetime (and counting!), but have you met her equally dedicated mate, Akeakamai?
Each year since 2006, Akeakamai, a Laysan albatross, has returned to Midway Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument with his mate Wisdom to raise a chick. Over the course of several months, both parents take turns incubating the egg. When they’re not on parenting duty, they forage for food. Once the egg hatches, both parents spend another 5 to 6 months raising the chick before it leaves the island. Happy Father's Day to Akeakamai and all the dedicated dads out there!
Photo: Bob Peyton/USFWS
Let’s orcastrate some extra love for our ocean because June is National Ocean Month!
In NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, seeing orcas like this one is a special treat. Transient orcas feed on marine mammals in the sanctuary. By rising above the waterline they can survey their surroundings and gain new perspective.
(Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Who do you think will win in this NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary race: the humpback whale, or the sea lion?
(Photo: Peter Flood)
(Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA
"The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction." - Rachel Carson
Happy birthday to "the mother of the age of ecology," Rachel Carson! Rachel Carson believed we are all responsible for caring for our natural world, and her dedication to environmental preservation has inspired generations. We can all do our part to carry on Carson's legacy and become better stewards of our blue planet, whether it's through removing marine debris or reducing our carbon footprints. What will you do? Let us know in the comments!
(Photo: Ryan Tabata/NOAA)
What inspires you about the ocean and Great Lakes?
(Photo: NOAA)
Aaaand lift-off! Albatrosses like this black-footed albatross are long-distance travelers, migrating between their feeding and nesting grounds. This particular albatross was spotted in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by Robert Schwemmer, our West Coast Region maritime heritage coordinator, and is special because of that little bit of green you see on its leg. That's a bird band, a small tag used to identify individual birds. Thanks to Schwemmer's zoom lens, we were able to read the number on this one and match it in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) database.
This particular albatross was originally banded May 30, 2002 – nearly 17 years ago – when it was too young to fly. It was banded in French Frigate Shoals in what is now part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, more than 2,700 miles away from where it was spotted in Monterey Bay! Its band can help researchers track its journey and better understand the life cycle and ecological needs of black-footed albatrosses.
If you observe a banded bird in the wild, you can report it. Learn more about this albatross sighting
(Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
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Because it’s well armed! *crickets*
(Photo: NOAA/MARE)
(Photo: Carolyn O'Connor)
(Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
(Photo: David Slater/NOAA)
(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
(Photo: Richard Formica)
(Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
(Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA)
(Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #774-1714)
(Photo: Peter Flood)
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
(Photo: The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey)
(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
(Photo: NOAA)
(Photo: Boxuan Zhan)
(Image: Ayaan Patel)
(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
How are you celebrating Earth Day?
(Photo:Douglas Croft Images)
What inspires you about the ocean and Great Lakes?
(Photo: NOAA)
(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Humpback whales (typically 45 feet long): Baleen it.
A little perspective from NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for your Friday.
(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
(Photo: Tony Knight)
(Photo courtesy of Jill Heinerth)
![An orca spyhopping.]](/media/eib/1591.jpg)
(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
(Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240)
e of the most abundant displays in the entire Caribbean. Most scientists agree that these mass spawning events are designed to allow genetic mixing and dispersal of offspring over large distances. Plus, the sheer volume of the events allow for the fertilization and survival of a significant number of larvae despite the best efforts of predators. (Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA)
