Featured Photos
Happy Mother's Day from your National Marine Sanctuary System! This harbor seal mom is checking in on her pup in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. If you see a harbor seal pup alone on a beach, it's not abandoned – its mother is just out feeding so she can continue to sustain her pup.Stay back 100 yards if possible, and keep any dogs on a leash. If you approach the pup, you may spook its mother and she may not come back – keeping your distance helps keep mother and pup safe! (Photo: Clarice Soleil)
Happy Earth Day from your National Marine Sanctuary System! Our blue planet is truly one of a kind. Our ocean connects people, and sustains everything from magnificent breaching humpback whales to vibrant coral reefs. Let’s show Earth some love today (and every day) 💙.
What's your favorite place to slow down and take in the sunset? We're pretty fond of Shi Shi Beach in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park. (Photo: Deanna Butcher)
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
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. It also protects an incredible diversity of marine life, including marine mammals, sea turtles, and 14 million seabirds. Thanks to the protection of the monument, the inhabitants of Papahānaumokuākea – like this Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtle – can rest a little easier each night (and day)! Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA, under permit #848-1695
We're totally at loggerheads over which sea turtle species is our favorite! This loggerhead sea turtle was spotted in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Loggerheads' powerful jaws enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. Adults can reach up to 250 pounds! Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA
Did you know that leatherback sea turtles – like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – are the largest living turtle species? Leatherbacks swim thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean to reach Monterey Bay to feast on jellyfish. This one is slurping up a brown sea nettle. Sometimes, though, what looks like a tasty jelly snack turns out to be a plastic bag. Since leatherbacks aren’t able to regurgitate plastics if they mistakenly eat them, it’s critical that we keep our ocean plastic-free and leatherback-friendly! Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Be free, little one! During a research expedition to document shipwrecks off North Carolina in 2017, researchers from NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary got to release two rehabilitated sea turtles. This cutie is Puck, a juvenile hawksbill turtle rehabilitated by the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project. The researchers were excited to shellebrate his return to the wild! Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA
We’re turtley stoked because it's Sea Turtle Week! Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is a hotspot for green sea turtles, called honu in Hawaiian. Here in these shallow coastal waters, they enjoy chowing down on marine algae and seagrasses. Which species of sea turtle is your favorite?
(Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA)
You can weigh in on future national marine sanctuaries! We're proposing a new national marine sanctuary in Lake Ontario . We're asking for feedback on this proposal to protect historically-significant shipwrecks and other maritime heritage resources. We have public meetings in Sterling, Oswego, Lyons, and Watertown, New York, coming up THIS WEEK. Not in New York? You can weigh in online, too. (Photo: Phil Hartmeyer/NOAA)
Each year for World Oceans Day, we celebrate the lifegiving 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're especially celebrating the critical role that gender equality plays in ocean conservation! From the scientists conducting important marine research – like NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary ecologist Dr. Michelle Johnston, pictured here – to the educators teaching the next generation about the ocean, our ocean (and all of us!) is indebted to the women and people of all genders who protect it.
(Photo: John Embesi/NOAA)
Our ocean and Great Lakes are known for reeling people in with their natural beauty and wonder. Anglers – like this fly fisher in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – have the opportunity to get especially close to nature and can help preserve it for generations to come. Fishers can practice marine stewardship by knowing the regulations of their fishing sites, avoiding areas with sensitive wildlife, and leaving no trace behind to protect aquatic life. Learn more
(Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
We 💙 our ocean and Great Lakes! National marine sanctuaries provide unique opportunities – like fishing, boating, and other outdoor adventures – to connect you to these special areas. You can be a steward of your marine environment while enjoying all the wonders that sanctuaries have to offer.
(Photo: Aaron Carpenter)
Happy World Environment Day! Our National Marine Sanctuary System supports and protects wildlife from across the food chain, from seabirds to whales to forage fish, and keeps their habitats safe and healthy for future generations. How are you celebrating the environment today?
(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Many anglers in national marine sanctuaries like NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary serve as the first eyes on the ocean: they're knowledgeable about the complex workings of tides, waves, and the ocean, and also familiar with the cycles and abundance of local fish species. Anglers also serve important roles as stewards, working with sanctuaries to clean up trash, remove invasive lionfish, and monitor water quality. Learn about fishing in your national marine sanctuaries. (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Sailing under the moonlight is one of the many ways to seas the day in your national marine sanctuaries, including NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Many of our national marine sanctuaries offer opportunities for boaters to responsibly sail, boat, and fish while being stewards of our marine environments. When you're out on the water, practice responsible recreation by keeping trash out of the water and keeping a safe distance from marine wildlife! (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
It's National Fishing and Boating Week! Did you know that your national marine sanctuaries are open to responsible recreational fishing? It's true! Fishing in places like NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary – pictured here – provides the opportunity to connect with the ocean and nature. What's your favorite sanctuary to fish in?
(Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
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)
On your marks...get set...go!
Incoming! The streams and rivers of Olympic National Park, adjacent to NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, are important spawning grounds for coho salmon. Salmon spend much of their lives at sea, then make their way up rivers to lay eggs. By protecting both ocean and river ecosystems, we help ensure species like these salmon can thrive!
(Photo: Adam Baus)
Diva sea lion in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary: “Don’t I just look fabulous today?”
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: Greg McFall/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)
"Each dive is a story in itself. Every visit to a shipwreck, reef, and underwater community tells a new story of loss and love. The environment in which a shipwreck rests, exists, and thrives also adds to the story, creating new chapters that only the diver will witness firsthand. Hopefully the diver can bring this story to the surface to be told to the public and inspire a new generation of adventure seekers to don the gear and bring a new story for generations to come. In most cases the treasures within these sanctuaries can, should, and will hopefully outlive us all." – Jeremy Bannister, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary volunteer and diver
Do you ever feel a little spawntaneous? Corals sure do! Corals can reproduce in a variety of ways, but mass spawning events like this one in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary are one of the most enchanting to witness, and most perplexing for scientists and researchers. Cues from the lunar cycle or water temperature stimulate entire coral reef colonies to release their tiny eggs and sperm, called gametes, at the same time into the ocean. Once these gametes are fertilized, they may form a coral larvae, or planula, which will swim freely until it settles down to grow into the adult coral that it was always meant to become!
(Photo: GP Schmahl/NOAA)
Happy 30-year anniversary to NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary! You might not expect such brilliant colors deep in the ocean off Northern California, but Cordell Bank is here to surprise you. Surrounded by soft sediments of the continental shelf seafloor, Cordell Bank's towering rock ledges provide homes to colorful and abundant invertebrates, algae, and fishes. For three decades now, the sanctuary has been protecting the bank and surrounding areas. Please join us in wishing Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary a very happy birthday! (Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA)
These chatty seabirds standing atop green sea turtles obviously didn't get the memo that today is World Turtle Day! How would you caption this image? (Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA)
Happy World Biodiversity Day! NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is a hub for biodiversity, and its seabird population is no exception. More than a quarter million seabirds gather in this sanctuary to feed and nest. Thirteen species, including common murres like this one, have breeding colonies on the Farallon Islands. Seabirds share the sanctuary with a variety of marine mammals, fish, and invertebrates, which collectively maintain the health of the Greater Farallones ecosystem.(Photo: Ron LeValley)
It's National Safe Boating Week, and safe boating can protect both you AND wildlife like this snowy egret. If you live near or are visiting NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, we've got you covered with a brand new online boater education course ! The course is free, and includes strategies for responsible boating and stewardship of the precious marine ecosystem.
(Photo: Matt McIntosh/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)
We're proposing a new national marine sanctuary in Lake Ontario, and we need your help! We're asking for feedback on this proposal to protect historically-significant shipwrecks and related maritime heritage resources. You can comment online . Plus, we're holding public meetings in Sterling, Oswego, Lyons, and Watertown, New York, in June. Get the details about the proposal and public meetings .
(Photo courtesy of Jill Heinerth)
Overheard at an open mic in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary: Why is it a bad idea to threaten an octopus?
Today is Endangered Species Day, so we’re honoring the largest animal to have ever lived on our planet: the blue whale! At up to 110 feet long, blue whales are truly giants of the seas, and can be seen in national marine sanctuaries like NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Still, blue whales are threatened by human activity, including being struck by ships, habitat degradation, and entanglement with fishing gear. Blue whales are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and you can help further them by keeping a safe distance if you’re lucky enough to spot one in the wild! (Photo: NOAA)
Raise your flukes if you love whales! This North Atlantic right whale is one of many whale visitors to NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which is full of some of the foods whales love best. You might even say it's whaley popular, so much so that we find it over-whale-ming! North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, and the sanctuary works closely with NOAA Fisheries and other partners to reduce human impacts, like collisions with vessels and entanglement in fishing gear. You can help protect right whales, too, by supporting your regional stranding network and helping raise awareness about protecting whales! (Photo: Peter Flood)
Check out Captain Hook’s old pirate ship! Just kidding; while the fictional character never had the chance to sail in real life, many others have passed through the waters of what is now NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron. The wreck of the two-masted schooner F.T. Barney is just one out of nearly 200 wrecks from times past, from wooden schooners to early steel-hulled steamers, that are preserved in the sanctuary's cold, fresh water. (Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA)
Built in headrest for a tired frigatebird? Not quite! Great frigatebirds – or ‘iwa in Hawaiian – like this one nest throughout Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. During courtship, males inflate a red pouch on their throat to attract a mate. It would probably make a nice pillow for them too, though. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
National marine sanctuaries aren't just amazing places to see the ocean and marine life – they're also awesome viewing spots for the moon and stars! This photo of the moon was taken in the remote NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Happy Mother's Day from your National Marine Sanctuary System! This harbor seal mom is checking in on her pup in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. If you see a harbor seal pup alone on a beach, it's not abandoned – its mother is just out feeding so she can continue to sustain her pup.Stay back 100 yards if possible, and keep any dogs on a leash. If you approach the pup, you may spook its mother and she may not come back – keeping your distance helps keep mother and pup safe! (Photo: Clarice Soleil)
Somebody call Pixar – one of their characters escaped! Just kidding; this little cutie is a real life snowy plover. These adorable birds are just one of many migratory shorebirds found in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where they forage for small invertebrates. Today, we're celebrating birds like snowy plovers for World Migratory Bird Day – which species is your favorite? (Photo: Allison Formica)
Have you ever had the transcendent experience of seeing a humpback whale in the wild? Whale watching season has returned in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, just off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Every summer, humpback whales flock to the sanctuary to feed on krill and small fish, making this ocean spot one of the world's premiere whale watching locations. Come join us for a whale watching tour guided by trained naturalists this summer! (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
What's a basking shark? Oh, y'know, just ONE OF THE COOLEST ocean creatures out there, and, no big deal, the second-biggest shark in the world. They can grow to about the length of a school bus, and use their gaping mouths to feed on tiny crustaceans the size of a grain of rice. They can be found in many of your national marine sanctuaries – this one was photographed in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary – but in the eastern Pacific, they were sighted less frequently beginning in the latter half of the 20th century.Recently, though, they've been spotted more often in and around NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and two sharks were tagged by sanctuary researchers! Learn more about the tagging project and why this is such a big deal
Whether you're a surfer or a lover of spectacular sunsets, your national marine sanctuaries have something for everyone! Want to understand why it’s so important to preserve these places for future generations? There's no better way to learn than through first-hand experience: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/visit .
How can YOU help birds today and every day? Clean up your trash, and join with others to remove litter from your local streets, parks, creeks, and beaches! Trash travels: even small pieces of litter dropped far inland can make their way into the ocean, where they threaten animals like this Laysan albatross in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Over 90 percent of the Laysan albatross chicks that hatch each year in the monument contain plastic in their stomachs, and many of them die from it. By refusing, reducing, reusing, recycling, and repurposing plastic, you can help protect these young birds! Learn more about how you can help
Where better to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week than in your national marine sanctuaries? These treasures of the ocean and Great Lakes provide an essential connection to the benefits of the outdoors for people of all ages and abilities. Whether you prefer fishing in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary or tide pooling in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, your National Marine Sanctuary System has something for everyone. Where will you go next?
We're flying into Bird Week like this double-crested cormorant! These seabirds can be found in many of your national marine sanctuaries. Unlike other seabirds, though, cormorants aren't waterproof, and must dry their features after hunting. That's why you often see them sunning themselves on shore and on rocks with their wings outstretched.
Sea stars? More like Death Stars! These bat stars are chowing down on a moon jelly in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Happy Star Wars Day, and May the Fourth be with you!
The Outer Banks contain some of the most dramatic barrier islands and most dangerous shoals and currents on Earth. The area is often referred to as the Graveyard of the Atlantic because these waters have entombed thousands of vessels and countless mariners who lost a desperate struggle against the forces of war, piracy, and nature. Recently, NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary archaeologists and their partners have been working to document these wrecks; several could be included in an expanded sanctuary. Here, a Monitor diver swims over the wreck of U-352, a German U-boat sunk by the USCGC Icarus in 1942.
Stressful week? Kick back and relax like this humpback whale in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary!
How do humpback whales get their name? It's easy to see in this photo of humpback whales in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary!
Taco Tuesday, anyone? This juvenile black sea bass and vase sponge make for a deliciously colorful photo from NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia. Here, a series of underwater rocky ledges are covered with such dense marine life that they're known as "live-bottom" reefs!
Thirty-three years ago today, a tiny national marine sanctuary was designated to protect Fagatele Bay in American Samoa. The bay harbors incredible biodiversity – in just a quarter of a square mile, you can find at least 271 species of fishes, 186 species of coral, and at least 1,400 species of algae and invertebrates. In 2012, the sanctuary expanded to become one of the largest: NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Happy birthday to this ocean treasure!
"I am an avid wreck diver and having the opportunity to dive some of the amazing wrecks of the Great Lakes is incredible. Having been wreck diving for over 25 years, I have not been so excited in years until I started exploring these impeccably preserved wrecks in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. All the artifacts are still untouched. This is why I am so impressed with the National Marine Sanctuary System. Divers are embraced and encouraged to enjoy the wrecks in all their glory." – Pete Mesley, professional diver
What inspires you about the ocean and Great Lakes?
When some teeth catch your eye and an eel wriggles by, that's a moray! This purplemouth moray eel in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is popping out to say hello. Purplemouths are one of many types of moray eels spotted in the sanctuary.
National marine sanctuaries are some of the coolest classrooms out there! Recently, students from Santa Barbara City College got the opportunity to pilot a Sofar Ocean remotely operated vehicle in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary aboard the R/V Shearwater. With this technology, they got to explore the undersea world of the sanctuary's seagrass meadow. Plus, the students had the opportunity to identify phytoplankton from a plankton tow. What's the best outdoor classroom you've ever experienced?
Whale, what do we have here? This painting of a humpback whale mother and her calf was submitted by student artist Ayaan Patel to NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary’s annual youth art contest. The contest highlights the importance of environmental education beyond the classroom by encouraging youth to engage creatively with marine ecosystems. Learn more
How would you caption this sea lion in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary?
This week, we’re celebrating National Environmental Education Week! Environmental education programs, like our Ocean Guardian School program, promote ocean and watershed conservation and inspire young people to practice environmental stewardship. The Ocean Guardian program gives K-12 students hands-on experience with watershed and marine conservation and provides educators with the resources to teach marine conservation projects.
Happy Earth Day from your National Marine Sanctuary System! Our blue planet is truly one of a kind. Our ocean connects people, and sustains everything from magnificent breaching humpback whales to vibrant coral reefs. Let’s show Earth some love today (and every day) 💙.
Most people think of our Great Lakes as just another muddy old lake, but that is very much not the case. I have a special love for the beautiful blue of Lake Huron and diving on the shipwrecks in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. I’ll never forget a particularly magical day diving on Grecian. It was a beautiful blue-skies, no-wind day and the visibility seemed endless. Nearly 100 feet underwater I could see the surface and the golden sun rays shimmering down to me on that exciting shipwreck. " – James Mott, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary community member
Single file, everyone. We'll all get to the weekend eventually.
Sea lion: I can’t baleen how big these whales are.
We’re batty about bat stars! While they don’t have webbed wings like their terrestrial namesake, bat stars like this one in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary instead have webbing between their short, triangular arms. They usually have five arms, but can have as many as nine! When two of these sea stars come into contact with each other, they start an “arm wrestle” without batting an eyelid.
P.S. Sorry for all the bat, er, bad, jokes.
BIG NEWS: We're proposing a new national marine sanctuary in eastern Lake Ontario. The proposed 1,700-square-mile would be adjacent to four counties in New York, and would protect 21 known shipwrecks and one military aircraft representing events spanning more than 200 years of our nation's history.
We want to hear what you think! Visit sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-ontario/ to learn more about the proposal and how you can submit an official comment online or by mail. We'll also be holding public meetings in Sterling, Lyons, Oswego, and Watertown, New York, throughout June.
Reefs are a great place to make frenemones! The rocky reefs of NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary make a comfortable home for sedentary invertebrates to coexist, like strawberry anemones and orange hydroids. (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is a hotspot for marine biodiversity! The sanctuary was originally established just to protect the reefs of Fagatele Bay, seen here. It has since expanded to become the largest of the 13 sanctuaries in the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary protects shallow and deep water coral reefs, rare marine archaeological resources, and a plethora of fish, marine mammals, and other ocean dwellers. NOAA co-manages the sanctuary with the government of American Samoa and works closely with local communities to preserve the ecological wonders and cultural traditions that are supported by the sanctuary. (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
"There is nothing like being 60 feet down and hearing whale communication all around you." – Dr. Robyn Walters, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary volunteer
What inspires you about the ocean?
(Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary offers amazing opportunities for lucky divers to hear whalesong while they're underwater. Please note, though, that while you may hear whalesong from afar, it is illegal – and dangerous – to approach a whale within 100 yards.) (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #774-1714)
It's Citizen Science Day! Thousands of citizen scientists dedicate their time across the National Marine Sanctuary System each year. By collaborating with sanctuary researchers, they help us better understand the condition of our sanctuaries and the organisms that live there. In NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, the citizen scientists of Stellwagen Sanctuary Seabird Stewards conduct year-round, systematic seabird surveys. Their efforts have helped reveal previously unknown details about these avian world-travelers and how they can serve as barometers of change in the marine environment. (Photo: Peter Flood)
Have you ever come across trash strewn on your favorite beach or in your local park and wondered, “What’s that doing here?!” Trash travels, and plastic debris, aluminum cans, fishing gear, and more can end up in the ocean. But we’re here to tell you that you can help prevent it! Alongside the NOAA Marine Debris Program, our national marine sanctuaries provide opportunities for community members to volunteer their time in clean-up efforts, like these two volunteers in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/discover-issue/solutions . (Photo: Karlyn Langjahr/NOAA)
We all live in a yellow submarine! Well, not really, but it’s National Submarine Day and we couldn't help ourselves! This brightly colored submersible, called Delta, has performed more than 7,000 deep-water dives, many of which were in and around NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. It’s also nicknamed “the Jeep of the Seas”! (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary hosted some surprise Spring Break visitors last week! The L pod of southern resident orcas traveled far from their usual feeding grounds near NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, likely in search of Chinook salmon, their primary food source. The L pod is led by an older female believed to be 90 years old, and is composed mostly of related females and their offspring. Even a three-month-old calf was spotted with the group! They are well studied in the Pacific Northwest, and are known to be highly social with unique vocalizations. (Photo © J. Flowers/Monterey Bay Marine Life Studies www.marinelifestudies.org
Ocean stewardship is open to all ages! NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School program – coordinated by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries -– gives K-12 schools the opportunity to develop ocean, watershed, and national marine sanctuaries conservation projects. Students and volunteers with the Ocean Guardian School program help remove invasive plants, eliminate plastic waste from beaches and neighborhoods, and plant native plants that help coastal ecosystems thrive. Thanks to one Ocean Guardian School program, burrowing owls recently returned to one beach along NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Learn more about the project
It's National Volunteer Week, and we're recognizing the 12,000+ volunteers who help the National Marine Sanctuary System thrive. Volunteers can get involved with diving, beach cleanups, marine animal identifications, and much more! In Hawai‘i, volunteers monitor humpback whales in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary as part of the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count. Learn how you can get involved in your national marine sanctuaries.
"Of all the variety of reasons to engage in the discovery and characterization of our maritime heritage (education, history, archaeology, impact assessments, preservation), there is one consistent prerequisite: curiosity." – Hans Van Tilburg, ONMS maritime heritage coordinator
What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: NOAA)
"Halt! What's the password to enter NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary?" (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
We’re here to tell you a tail about the blue whale. Baleen it or not, blue whales are the largest known animal to have ever existed on Earth! Their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant, and their hearts are as large as a small car. In the summer and fall feeding seasons, blue whales travel to the California coast, including NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, to gulp down shrimp-like krill (about four tons a day, to be exact!). (Photo: Peter Flood)
Piracy on the open ocean! Parasitic jaegers get their name from their habit of pursuing other birds and forcing them to drop their catch so the jaeger can take it. Also known as Arctic skuas, these birds breed in the Arctic then migrate south along coastlines. Here, a parasitic jaeger is pursuing a laughing gull near NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Peter Flood)
Those aren't dragon claws – they're gooseneck barnacles! These filter feeders are found in the rocky tide pools of NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Their shells are made up of multiple white plates that help protect them from predation and desiccation.(Photo: Jenny Waddell/NOAA)
Week off to a rough start? Take a deep breath, relax, and picture yourself diving on this gorgeous reef in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
What's a nudibranch, anyway? These soft-bodied mollusks are also sometimes referred to as sea slugs. The word "nudibranch" means "naked gills," describing the feathery gills they wear on their backs. This white-knight dorid, a type of nudibranch, was spotted in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
"At the age of 14, I became open water dive certified. I had spent summers before snorkeling the shipwrecks of NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and couldn't wait to be fully submerged in scuba gear on one of the historical wrecks. My first dive in the Great Lakes was on a shipwreck in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary called Joseph S. Fay. My dad was my dive buddy and will never forget the bliss I had while exploring a shipwreck underwater without having to stay at the surface. Six years later, I returned to Joseph S. Fay at sunrise with a group of women divers completing a feat of diving all five of the Great Lakes in 24 hours. This time, my dad and scuba instructor cheered on the shore as the sun rose over Lake Huron. The sense of place, community, and desire for exploration that the National Marine Sanctuary System has instilled in me motivates me everyday. " – Hannah MacDonald, education specialist at NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
What inspires you about the ocean and Great Lakes?
(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
It's Dolphin Awareness Month! Many different species of dolphin can be found in your national marine sanctuaries – including common dolphins. Known for their incredible energy and acrobatic skills, common dolphins are gregarious, sometimes gathering in groups of hundreds or thousands. They're frequently spotted bowriding, or surfing in the waves created by boats. Have you seen them while visiting your West Coast sanctuaries?
(Photo: Peter Flood)
We have a celebrity in our midst! Meet Wisdom, the approximately 68 year-old Laysan albatross who has been returning to her nesting site in Midway Atoll National Wildlife Reguge– within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – annually to lay her eggs and rear her chicks. She's the oldest known wild bird in the world! Her yearly return to the monument ignites hope in the continued effort to preserve our ocean ecosystems for all the species that depend on it.
(Photo: Madalyn Riley/USFWS)
We wreckon that documenting submerged artifacts and shipwrecks is no easy feat! That’s why we've been collaborating with Diving With A Purpose, or DWP, for over a decade to collect underwater artifacts, create site maps, and educate the public about maritime archaeology and the history of our national marine sanctuaries. Founded with support from the National Association of Black Scuba Divers, DWP helps educate, train, and provide field experiences to youth and adults interested in maritime archaeology and marine conservation, with a special focus on documenting African-American submerged artifacts, slave trade shipwrecks, and coral reef restoration. You can find NOAA and DWP divers working in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Check out some of their recent work .
(Photo: Brenda Altmeier/NOAA)
When you can’t find protection in the open ocean, you bring the protection to you! That’s exactly what these small fish in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are doing. In need of a shelter from predators, the fish gather tightly together to form a round “bait ball.” By hiding close to one another, most of them can be protected. As the old adage goes, teamwork makes the dream work...except for those unlucky fish on the edges.
(Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
“Hey, I have a whaley funny joke for ya. What do you call a pod of musical orcas?"
...
“An orca-stra! *buh dum tss!*”
When they aren’t splashing around dad jokes, orcas can be sighted sporadically along North America’s West Coast, including in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The best time to spot an orca in this sanctuary is from April until June, when they feed on migrating gray whales.
(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Staghorn coral were once a dominant species on Caribbean reefs, including those of NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Beginning in the 1980’s, pressure from disease, climate change, pollution, and overfishing began to take a toll on the reef-building corals, and populations declined by around 97 percent. However all is not doom and gloom! Researchers at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA Fisheries are working hard to protect and manage the sanctuary’s corals through staghorn coral nurseries, protective activities, zoning and channel markings, and other restoration efforts.
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
"I recently took a group of 27 elementary school students kayaking in the Santa Barbara Harbor. For many of these Ocean Guardian Ambassadors and their parents, it was their first hands-on experience with the ocean and they had never been on a kayak before. It was amazing to see the transformation of one young student on my kayak, who started out terrified and severely uncomfortable to eventually becoming an future ocean lover. An hour and a half into the experience, she was running her hand through the water, taking a turn paddling and asking when we would get to kayak again." – Claire Fackler, ONMS national volunteer coordinator
What inspires you about the ocean?
(Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA)
How would you score this pelican's dive? Brown pelicans – like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – plunge into the water to catch fish with their heads pointed straight down and their wings folded back. Their sharp eyesight helps them spot a meal from heights of 20 to 60 feet! It’s no wonder they are called pelicans and not pelican’ts.
(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Today is World Water Day! The Great Lakes contain about 21 percent of the world's supply of surface fresh water, and provide water for drinking, agriculture, transportation, power, recreation and a host of other uses. In NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron, you'll also find history: the sanctuary protects some 200 shipwrecks that hold stories of our nation's maritime past. What body of water are you grateful for today?
(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Today is the International Day of Forests – and did you know that the ocean has forests too? Towering kelp fronds like these form the basis for kelp forests throughout national marine sanctuaries on the West Coast. These forests are important habitats for marine life from juvenile fish to sea otters! What's your favorite kelp forest dweller?
(Photo: Brett Seymour/NPS)
It's the first day of spring – so who's ready for some spring cleaning? This split-crown feather duster worm is taking care of springtime errands in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Day to day, the feather duster worm lives in a tube it builds itself from sand. When it emerges from the tube, the worm’s gills spread open like a housekeeping feather duster, helping it sweep the sea for a dinner of microscopic plankton.
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
This is some whale-ly exciting news! On March 6, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary coordinated an effort to free a young humpback whale off Maui. The whale was entangled in heavy gauge line through its mouth that trailed several hundred feet behind it. The disentanglement team managed to remove all but a small amount of the line – 400 feet of line was removed in all! The recovered gear has been identified as pot gear set off Dutch Harbor, Alaska, which is more than 2,500 miles from the sanctuary. We're so glad this whale now has a better chance of surviving and thriving! Learn more about the disentanglement effort .
If you see a whale in distress, please DO NOT attempt to aid it yourself – that can be extremely dangerous for both you and the whale. Instead, maintain 100 yards distance and call the NOAA 24-hour Hotline at 1-888 256-9840. If you're unable to call, please radio the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF CH. 16 and they will relay the report.
(Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under MMHSRP Permit #18786-03)
Algae the first to say there's a lot of seaweed growing here! Low tides during the summer revealed a diverse array of algae species competing for space on tidal rocks in the Makah Reservation. Researchers from NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary monitor seawater temperatures and intertidal organisms like algae, sea stars, and mussels here each year. It's part of a collaborative effort with the Makah Tribe and the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe), which monitors dozens of intertidal sites spanning the U.S. West Coast. What can you spot here?
(Photo: Jenny Waddell/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 don green in celebration of 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: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Nile, seen here tail breaching, is a fintastic fan favorite for whale watchers in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary thanks to her curious and friendly personality. Born in 1987, Nile is one of several humpback whales that return regularly to the sanctuary to feed. She's also been spotted in the past with her newborn calves! Learn more about Nile’s life journey .
(Photo: Mackenzie Meier)
*Peeks out of coral den in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument*
“Is it the weekend yet?!”
(Photo: Paola Ayotte/NOAA)
It’s Pi Day, Pi Day, gotta get down on Pi Day! Our national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments are teeming with organisms that display radial symmetry; they are symmetrical in any direction around their center point, just like a pie! While this anemone in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary might not be as tasty as key lime pie, it is one example of a radially symmetrical creature in the deep blue sea. Can you name any other radially symmetrical marine organisms?
(Photo: Evan Barba)
March is Youth Art Month! Students who participate in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Massachusetts Marine Educators' art contest turn marine education into creative works of art one brush stroke at a time. Student participating in the contest illustrate Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary species, like this comb jelly. Their art can inspire interest in local marine ecosystems and offers an alternative classroom tool for science educators.
Last year, Linda Palominos, a 12th-grader at Rio Hondo High School in Texas, placed first in the high school category with this drawing of a comb jelly!
Are you interested in submitting an illustration for this year’s competition ?
(Image: Linda Palominos)
NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is a coral-lover's dream. In the tiny Fagatele Bay, for example, you can find nearly 170 species of coral! What can you spot here?
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Something fishy is happening here! The golden smooth trunkfish is a rarity found only in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and the Bay Islands of Honduras. It's not a separate species from the smooth trunkfish that can be seen throughout the rest of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, but rather a different color morph. We don't yet know what causes the color difference!
(Photo: Steve Miller)
The first time I dove a wreck in the Great Lakes, my breath was taken away, more from the vision than the cold. The wreck that had sunk over 150 years ago lay clearly below me. It was a time capsule. The cold, fresh waters of Lake Huron had perfectly preserved the ship. Rigging was still threaded through wooden dead-eyes. The deck forward still held the anchors in place ready to be deployed. Great Lakes diving is my favorite. The preservation and history are unprecedented." – Michael Moulton, public school teacher and scuba instructor
What inspires you about the ocean and Great Lakes?
(Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
This month, we celebrate one of our favorite marine photosynthesizers: seagrasses! Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow on the ocean floor, particularly in shallow waters. Seagrass beds – such as those in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – provide shelter and food for many organisms, like this pufferfish! These lush marine meadows also help filter nutrients from stormwater runoff and trap sediments that would otherwise float to sensitive nearby coral reefs. Boat propellers can dislodge seagrasses from the ocean floor, damaging this critical habitat. You can help seagrasses and pufferfish alike by avoiding boating in shallow waters that are home to seagrasses.
(Photo: NOAA)
Happy International Women’s Day! Our national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments are indebted to the hard work and research conducted by women scientists and resource managers. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Andrea Kealoha is one such scientist. For her Ph.D. research, Andrea studies water chemistry and coral reefs, aiming to understand how coral reefs like those of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary will respond to a changing ocean. In 2016, Andrea and a rapid-response team assessed water and reef invertebrate health at East Flower Garden Bank after a localized mortality event hit. Learn more about her research and what she found.
(Photo courtesy of Andrea Kealoha)
Like many of us, corals like to be spawn-taneous!
The "cloud" above this cauliflower coral in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is actually reproductive material, or gametes, being ejected out into the water. Spawning like this helps ensure genetic diversity, because coral larvae may travel long distances and settle on distant reefs. In many coral species, these spawning events only occur once a year and may last for only 10 minutes, making them pretty special for researchers to witness. Studying coral spawning can help scientists assess the impact of environmental disturbances on coral reproductive health.
(Photo: Lindsey Kramer/USFWS)
Whale, what do we have here! This gray whale and her calf are embarking on a great migration north along the California coast en route to their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. On their way, they may travel through several national marine sanctuaries, including NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Gray whales have the longest recorded annual migration of any mammal, traveling about 10,000 miles round-trip between their breeding and feeding grounds. Next stop, Arctic buffet!
(Photo: NOAA)
During the month of March, we’ll be celebrating Women’s History Month! Today, we’re highlighting a talented woman in science, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Carina Fish! For her Ph.D. at University of California, Davis, Carina is working with researchers at NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary to reconstruct past ocean conditions using deep-sea corals. By uncovering records kept by deep-sea coral skeletons, Carina aims to unearth the conditions of the past environment. NOAA’s Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program encourages independent graduate level research – particularly by female and minority students – in NOAA mission-related sciences. Learn more about the scholarship .
(Photo: NOAA/OET)
We’re backflipping into Dolphin Awareness Month with this Pacific white-sided dolphin in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Pacific white-sided dolphins are highly social animals that can be seen traveling in schools of up to a thousand individuals. They are also very playful, and can be spotted “bow riding,” or swimming near the front part of a ship, jumping, somersaulting, and spinning in the air! Pacific white-sided dolphins are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but they still face threats from fishing gear entanglement and underwater noise pollution. You can help by keeping a distance from the dolphins, and reporting dolphins that are in distress. Learn more about how you can help these charismatic whales .
(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Happy World Wildlife Day! Humans all over the world depend on healthy ocean wildlife. For example, sea otters – like this otter chowing down on a crab – help keep kelp forest ecosystems in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and elsewhere healthy. In turn, healthy kelp forests serve as a nursery for fish; they also absorb wave action, reducing coastal erosion.
What's your favorite kind of ocean wildlife?
(Photo: Jenni Peters)
Shipwrecks and submerged archaeological resources in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary have become a popular home for invasive quagga and zebra mussels. Mussel colonization can deteriorate these archaeological time capsules, making it more difficult for archaeologists, historians, and resource managers to document the wrecks. Zebra and quagga mussels also pose a threat to their local ecosystem; as consumptive filter feeders, each mussel can filter a liter of water per day! This depletes the food supply for many native fish and invertebrate species. And that’s a wrap for Invasive Species Week! Learn more about invasive species in our national marine sanctuaries.
(Photo: David J. Ruck/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)
Invasive lionfish can have seriously negative impacts on ecosystems in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Sanctuary researchers are working to better understand and remove this species, and you can help, too! For one thing, recreational divers and snorkelers can participate in lionfish derbies. Lionfish are pretty tasty, too, so by encouraging local grocery stores and restaurants to carry them, you help control their populations. Learn more about lionfish and how you can get in on the action.
(Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA)
These opalescent nudibranchs seem unfazed that the rust-colored bryozoan they are crawling over is an invasive species that’s taken up residence in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Watersipora subtorquata is a filter-feeding invertebrate that grows on hard surfaces like rocks, pier pilings, and ship hulls. It's a problem along the West Coast, where it can harm native invertebrate species by smothering them or outcompeting them for space. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary researchers continue to study Watersipora to understand how it is impacting the health of the sanctuary. Learn more about invasive species! .
(Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA)
This orange cup coral may be beautiful, but it's an invasive species in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This Indo-Pacific hard coral has established itself throughout the tropical western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. Scientists believe it may have made the journey attached to ship hulls or within ship ballast water. Orange cup coral displaces native corals and sponges, taking up space in which native species would normally establish themselves. Also, because these corals reproduce at a young age and larvae may float on the current for up to 14 days before settling, they are able to spread far and wide. In Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, sanctuary staff have worked to remove orange cup coral from the reef to keep it from getting too established. (Photo: NOAA)
Invasive Species Week is upon us, and what better way to kick off the week than with the infamous *drumroll please* lionfish!
In recent years, Indo-Pacific lionfish have been found in coral reefs throughout the southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean – including in sanctuaries like NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Because of their voracious appetites, rapid reproduction rate, and lack of natural predators, these invasive lionfish post a serious threat to coral reefs, with potential long-term consequences for native fish communities, habitats, and entire ecosystems. Learn more about this invasive species .
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
"What I love about our National Marine Sanctuary System is how it is designed to protect nationally-significant places while engaging local communities across our country. It can be messy and complicated, but it also inspires and connects us to one another and to places we hold dear. I've been really proud of the work our Diversity and Inclusion Committee has taken on the past couple of years. We tackle difficult subjects with the same dedication we have for protecting our sanctuaries, and it's an honor to work with colleagues who are committed to making our office a great place to work." – Hélène S., program analyst with NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen served as the first African-American fighter pilots for the U.S. military. Some of airmen trained over the Great Lakes, including over Lake Michigan and Lake Huron – and some of them tragically lost their lives during those training exercises. This Tuskegee Airman, Lieutenant Frank H. Moody, crashed into Lake Huron and was killed on April 11, 1944. Researchers from NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary have been working to recover lost Tuskegee aircraft and honor these airmen's legacy. Recently, Moody's airplane was discovered resting in 30 feet of water.
This sleepy seal needs a power nap! Elephant seals – like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – use lots of energy diving deep underwater to find food while avoiding predators, like white sharks. An elephant seal can dive for up to 30 minutes at a time for months on end, only spending a couple minutes at the surface for a quick breather. Between months of searching for food, breeding, defending their territory, and raising their pups, it’s only fair that elephant seal catch a few Z’s now and again! (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
California sea lions are highly social animals, but a mother can locate her pup even in a crowd like this one in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! A mother sea lion can recognize her pup through its smell and vocalizations, and her pup can do the same with her. (Photo: Jeff Harris/NOAA)
Say hello to the Hawaiian squirrelfish! Known as ‘ala‘ihi in Hawaiian, these bright fish are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning they're found nowhere else in the world. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument have an exceptionally high rate of endemism . In some parts of the monument, over 50% of the population might only be found in this region! (Photo: James Watt/NOAA)
Reef squid – like this one spotted on a night dive in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – are social cephalopods. One way they communicate with each other is by changing the pigments in their skin, flashing colorful spots and patterns to indicate danger or readiness to mate. If they feel really threatened, reef squid will eject a cloud of black ink to confuse their predators, signaling that they are not squidding around!
(Photo: Alexander Neufeld)
We now present all of our Monday moods in sea otter form.
Tag yourself: which sea otter chilling on the shores of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary are you? (Photo: Lilian Carswell/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Our family moved to Alpena from Metro Detroit about three years ago. It was a rough transition, but the opportunities at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary helped ease us into life here. My husband volunteered with different events, in my job capacity I was able to connect with staff the sanctuary, my youngest daughter became very involved in microplastics awareness and prevention, as well as the underwater ROV program, and our oldest daughter now works for the sanctuary. We love how much the organization connects with the community and in doing so connects the community to the magnificent natural resource out our front door in so many accessible ways. " – Jessica L., NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary volunteer
What inspires you about the ocean & Great Lakes?
(Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA)
Coral reefs are a popular pit stop for lots of marine critters, such as these manini, or convict tang, in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The fish graze on algae that covers the corals, meanwhile the corals get a free cleaning. Not a bad deal! (Photo: Lindsey Kramer/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
In today's example of life imitating art, we present the ah-mazing maze coral! Maze corals, like this one found in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, have meandering ridges of calcium carbonate secreted by their individual polyps. (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Green sea turtle: *sees Hawaiian monk seal alone in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument* Green sea turtle: “You shell be my valentine.” Happy Valentine's Day from your National Marine Sanctuary System! We hope your day is filled with cuddles and love!
(Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA, under NMFS Research Permit #848-1695)
Behold, a magnificent orcastration of killer whales in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary!
(Photo: Dayna Rignanese/NOAA)
Nearly 200 military aircraft crashed while training over the Great Lakes during World War II. Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American fighter pilots for the U.S. Army Air Corps, trained over Lake Huron, including over what is now NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Six Tuskegee Airmen and their aircraft were lost in the Great Lakes. Researchers from Thunder Bay are working to locate and map the missing aircraft. Here, Michigan state maritime archaeologists Wayne Lusardi investigates the only aircraft found so far, a practice target that was towed behind an airplane.(Photo: John Bright/NOAA)
Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Here, Nancy Foster Scholar Jessica Hale searches for sea otters in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary as part of her graduate research on otter feeding habits. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship recognizes outstanding scholarship and encourages independent graduate-level research – particularly by female and minority students – in the ocean sciences. Learn more about the scholarship at fosterscholars.noaa.gov.(Photo: Elizabeth Weinberg/NOAA)
"I am fortunate enough to work with volunteers almost on a daily basis. A lot of my volunteers travel hundreds of miles just to come out and clean Washington's beaches, including the numerous ones along NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Each year, our volunteers help remove nearly 120,000 pounds of household plastics, lost fishing gear, and other marine debris from the coastal environment. As a collective whole, our efforts are stronger, and our volunteers prove that every time they participate in our cleanups." – James Roubal, program coordinator at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Washington CoastSavers What inspires you about the ocean?(Photo courtesy of James Roubal)
As the saying goes, keep your friends close, and your anemones closer...unless you're a crab.
Despite their colorful and flowery appearance, sea anemones – like this one in a NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary tide pool – are carnivorous predators! A sea anemone’s tentacles can sense even the slightest touch, triggering a rapid sting that paralyzes its prey. Sea anemones commonly snatch up small fish or crustaceans that cross their path. It's been a crabby day for this unlucky crustacean.(Photo: Sarah Heintzelman/NOAA)
Whale would you look at that breach? Scientists still aren't quite sure why humpback whales and other species breach, but one hypothesis is that breaching helps whales remove parasites from their skin – similar to the way some land animals scratch their backs against trees. It's also possible that noise levels might impact breaching behavior. When noise levels from rough seas or boats impact a whale's ability to communicate, they may use the sound of their bodies crashing against the water's surface as an alternate method of communication – and use visual cues from above the water's surface to help them direct communication.(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Contemplating a midday snack? You're not the only one – this oyster toadfish in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary looks like it's considering making a snack out of this deer cowrie! (Photo: Allison Scott)
Anyone else in the mood for some beach time?
Hawaiian monk seals – found in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – know how to make the most of a sunny day. Though these seals are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, protection efforts by NOAA and our partners have led populations to increase in the past few years. Today, about 1,100 live in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with an additional 300 residing in the Main Hawaiian Islands! It's only fair that occasionally they get to put up their flippers and just take in the sun. 😎 (Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA, under NMSF Research Permit #10137)
Some icy trivia for you – which national marine sanctuary sometimes freezes over in the winter time? NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary! The ice on this Lake Huron sanctuary is beautiful, but also can be treacherous. In 1875, for example, the schooner Cornelia B. Windiate came to an untimely end during a fall gale. It's thought heavy seas covered the decks in ice, causing the vessel to sink to the bottom of the lake.(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Whale hello there! Every winter, thousands of humpback whales make their way to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. In the warm waters surrounding Hawai‘i, these whales mate, calve, and nurse their young. In the sanctuary, mothers can be seen breaching alongside their calves, while males can be seen competing with one another for females in fierce head-to-head battles. Learn more about the sanctuary at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov!(Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #774-1714)
Start your week off right by helping to make a difference for the ocean. These three ocean heroes are cleaning up marine debris from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – what will you do?(Photo: NOAA)
Taking it easy this weekend? These Hawaiian monk seals are, like, five steps ahead of you.(Photo: Barbara Billand/NOAA)
Ever go outside at night, look up, and realize it's just not dark enough to see all the stars? Many of your national marine sanctuaries offer stellar opportunities for stargazing. This view, for one, is in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park!(Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Cuddle pile!(Photo: Peter Flood)
Today marks the anniversary of our nation's first national marine sanctuary, NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary! This small but important sanctuary protects the resting place of the USS Monitor, one of the most famous warships in our nation's history. The ship was regarded as President Abraham Lincoln's "secret weapon" in the Civil War. However, in 1862, Monitor sank while under tow off North Carolina when a fierce storm swamped the low-riding ship. The last anyone saw of Monitor was its red signal lantern rising and falling in the heavy seas. More than a century later, that red lantern was the first artifact recovered by NOAA from the Monitor shipwreck, and it is now on display at The Mariners' Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia.(Photo courtesy of The Mariners' Museum)
In the reefs of NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, you'll find amazing biodiversity. What can you spot in this photo?(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Of course there's nothing like a bright blue sky over a dazzling azure ocean – but there's a certain beauty in moody gray clouds, too.(Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Hectic holiday prep got you down? Take in a moment of tranquility with this diver in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. What amazing sea creatures might be waiting just beyond the next stand of kelp?(Photo: Nathan Coy)
Spin into the weekend with these Hawaiian spinner dolphins in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument! Hawaiian spinner dolphins exhibit a "fission-fusion society," where they fuse into large pods of hundreds as they move offshore at night to feed, then split into smaller groups to rest and socialize during the day. The tranquil, remote waters of the monument are the perfect place for these charismatic dolphins to rest and feed! (Photo: Kevin Lino/NOAA)
It's a bird, it's a plane – it's a manta ray! Lucky divers in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary get to see manta rays cruising the reef. Much like our own fingerprints, the spot patterns on a ray's belly are unique to each individual. This helps researchers identify individuals and better understand their habits! (Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA)
Who captures fish raw with two sets of jaws? That's a moray! In addition to their "main" set of teeth, moray eels have what are known as pharyngeal jaws. This second set of jaws is within the eel's throat, and helps it swallow its prey. Talk about a predator with serious bite! (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA)
What's your favorite place to slow down and take in the sunset? We're pretty fond of Shi Shi Beach in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park. (Photo: Deanna Butcher)
Talk about a crab-tivating new friend, and one that fits in the palm of your hand! Just watch out for its claws if it's feeling crabby. This little juvenile red rock crab (Cancer productus) was picked up out of some algae during a research expedition in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. In adulthood, red rock crabs are, indeed, brick red, but when they're this young they can be a variety of colors and patterns. (Photo: Mojoscoast/ACCESS/NOAA/Pt. Blue/R. Wallen)
Loggerheads are turtley awesome! Loggerheads get their name from their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey. From hatching to adulthood, a loggerhead increases its weight more than 6,000 times! Marine debris, fishing gear, and development near their nesting areas remain major issues for loggerheads, but by working together we can help reduce these threats. This beautiful loggerhead was spotted in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA)
Cute AND helping the ecosystem: the sea otter story! Sea otters help stabilize kelp forest ecosystems in places like NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. One the sea otter's favorite foods is the purple sea urchin, which is known for eating kelp holdfasts and destroying kelp forests – so by chowing down on urchins, sea otters help protect the kelp. This sea otter is doing double duty, too, by snacking on an invasive green crab, a species that threatens West Coast ecosystems. (Photo: Lilian Carswell/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Don't be jelly of this moon jelly's gorgeous pink hues! These lovely jellyfish are common in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary from August to October. Their sting tends to be mild, but still best to look and not touch! (Photo: Katy Danca Galli)
Today is International Mountain Day – and some of the largest mountains in the world occur under the sea. Thanks to the steep slopes of these seamounts, nutrients are carried upwards from the depths of the ocean toward the sunlit surface, providing food for corals, fish, crustaceans, and more. One seamount is Davidson Seamount in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which is 26 miles long, eight miles wide, and 7,480 feet tall! Davidson Seamount supports a lush, biodiverse community of species like the precious coral and basket stars pictured here. (Photo: NOAA/Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI))
Northern elephant seal, or giant prairie dog? Some of the largest breeding colonies of northern elephant seals occur in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park – but even an elephant seal competing for a mate needs to take a nap sometimes. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Wisdom is back! Wisdom, a Laysan albatross and the world's oldest known bird, has returned to Midway Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. She is at least 68 years old – and biologists have confirmed that she has laid an egg! Albatross often take time off to rest between egg-laying years, but the Wisdom and her mate Akeakamai have met on Midway Atoll to lay and hatch an egg every year since 2006. Wisdom has laid between 30 and 35 eggs in her lifetime. In 2017, the chick that she fledged in 2001 was observed just a few feet away from her current nest, marking the first time a returning chick of hers has been documented.Please join us in welcoming Wisdom home! (Photo: Madalyn Riley/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Can you name a more iconic duo than corals and their tiny single-celled algae partners? Called zooxanthellae, these small algal cells provide food for corals by transforming sunlight into nutrients. Coral polyps use food that the algae leak out as an energy source to grow and flourish, like this reef-building community in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! The algae also provide corals' brilliant colors. Because the algae are key to healthy coral reefs, this is also why we mostly find reef-building corals in waters that have adequate access to sunlight. (Photo: The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey)
Each year, the coral colonies of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary take part in mass spawning events, releasing gametes that can drift on the current, settle elsewhere, and start new coral colonies. These spawning events can be a spectacular sight to see! Other marine creatures, like this brittle star, also partake in the festivities by stealing away some gametes to eat. Since there are billions of these tiny gametes cascading underwater during this annual event, this sneaky brittle star gets a pass 😎 (Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA)
In the past few years, something has been targeting the corals in and around NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. In 2014, scientists started noticing patches of corals that were white and skeletal, with no living tissue. This disease, termed "stony coral tissue loss disease," has since spread over 150 square miles. Sanctuary scientists and partners are working to understand what is causing this disease and how it can be stopped – right now, they know that it seems to be transmitted by touch and water circulation.
If you visit the sanctuary, you can help protect corals by using mooring buoys to avoid anchoring on and damaging corals, using reef-friendly sunscreens, cleaning your dive gear, and never, ever touching corals. Learn more about the disease and other ways you can help . (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Coral reefs are havens for many marine animals, like this giant trevally, or ulua in Hawaiian! In Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, coral ecosystems are kept relatively isolated from human contact in an effort to keep reef diversity undisturbed. The incredible ecosystems of the monument include species that are found nowhere else in the world. More than 50 percent of the fish species and 30 percent of the corals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are found only in the waters around Hawai‘i!(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
The coral ecosystems in our national marine sanctuaries and monuments are unbereefable! Your National Marine Sanctuary System is home to diverse coral ecosystems, ranging from the tropical waters of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to the deep waters of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. We’ll be sharing these marvels of the sea all week long, so stay tuned! Here, a towering coral reef assemblage reaches to the surface in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Beata Lerman)
We found Nemo! A special mucus layer on anemonefish – like these two in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa – allows them to live among anemones without being stung. In return for the protection the anemone provides, the anemone gets food leftovers from the fish. Plus, the anemonefish is quite protective of its home, so it chases away anything that might be interested in chowing down on the anemone! (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
There is much to sea in your national marine sanctuaries! Whether you prefer walking the sandy shores of NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary or kayaking above the kelp forests of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, there's plenty of opportunity for recreation and exploration. Learn more about what you can do at the sanctuary nearest you. (Photo: Nathan Coy)
Don’t let those adorable eyes fool you, this balloonfish doesn't mess around! Balloonfish, like this one in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, have highly elastic stomachs that allow them to ingest large volumes of water, making them too big to be eaten by potential predators. Plus, when they expand, those long, sharp spikes stick straight out – not a pleasant mouthful! (Photo: Daryl Duda)
Laysan finches are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Lacking substantial predators both on ground and in the skies, these birds have little to fear and readily approach other creatures, including humans! Man-made objects, such as these glass fishing floats washed ashore on Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, also attract their curiosity, but sometimes that curiosity can lead these birds to trouble. Laysan finches have been found trapped in tents, under tarps, and even in pit toilets. Help keep these birds safe by always disposing of your waste properly – trash travels! (Photo: Koa Matsuoka)
Each year, members of the Chumash community journey from the California mainland to Limuw, or Santa Cruz Island. Paddlers, or pullers, voyage using a tomol, a traditionally-built redwood plank canoe. It has a six-person crew, and unique abalone inlay designs. Along their way, the pullers travel through NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. They are supported by the sanctuary's Research Vessel Shearwater, which sets course, hosts resting paddlers, and helps protect the tomol and its pullers from vessel traffic. Read one tomol puller's story. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Dive into NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, you never know what you might discover! Sometimes, recreational divers and fishers stumble upon pieces of historical shipwrecks and other artifacts on the seafloor. Fisherman Jose Antonio Lopez Ruiz of Homestead, Florida, is credited with finding this wooden wreckage from an unidentified 19th century sailing ship near Alligator Reef near Islamorada. He did the right thing by reporting the find and not disturbing it! Here, volunteer Cassie Qualls returns to the surface after investigating the wreckage. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary encourages anyone who happens across new discoveries to get in touch, so these artifacts can be studied to reveal rich stories about our maritime past!
(Photo: Matthew Lawrence/NOAA)
Hey...hey you...why did the shark cross the coral reef? ...To get to the other tide! *buh-dum-tss*
Today’s underwater comedian was brought to you by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary!
(Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA)
One more day of relaxation before it's back to work! Here, a stand up paddleboarder takes a break above the wreck of the shipwreck Albany. One of the more shallow wrecks in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (only five feet deep!), Albany is an excellent wreck to explore by paddleboard, kayak, or snorkel. (Photo: Bryan Dort)
Atlantic white sided dolphin: "I’m not so sure I can do it..." Also Atlantic white sided dolphin: *leaps out of the water like a magnificent acrobat* Atlantic white sided dolphins are capable of impressive jumps and breaches, even earning the nickname “springer” and “jumper." These marine mammals can be spotted in the temperate waters of NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and across the North Atlantic.
(Photo: Mackenzie Maier)
Tired of turkey already? What about the turkeyfish? Also known as the lionfish, its fins resemble the colorful plumage of a turkey. In recent decades, this fish has become an invasive species in Atlantic waters, including in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. With a voracious appetite, rapid reproduction, and no known predators, it is a significant threat to biodiversity and reef health. One management method is to eat them! So, if you’re feeling seafood for a post-Thanksgiving treat, why not give the turkeyfish a try?
(Photo: Bess Bright)
This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for all the people who support the National Marine Sanctuary System, and all the creatures who live in these protected waters! From the photographers who bring the ocean to our fingertips, to humpback whales who majestically swim through these waters, and everyone in between, thanks for making our national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments spectacular!
What marine critters are you thankful for? Let us know in the comments!
(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Every winter, the beaches of NOAA's Greater Farallones 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. These elephant seals are lots of fun to watch, but make sure to give them lots 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: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
Just a liiiiittle farther...What do you think this juvenile green heron is reaching for? One of the simple joys we can all enjoy in national marine sanctuaries is birdwatching! No matter your age, skill, or location on land or sea, we can all enjoy some pretty incredible birding experiences in sanctuaries. In NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, mangrove-fringed islands provide nesting grounds for a number of bird species. Plus, juvenile fish among the mangrove roots give these birds plenty of food to snack on.
(Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Dive in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, and you might encounter loggerhead sea turtles! These turtles visit the sanctuary to rest and forage. As with all wild animals, always give loggerhead sea turtles plenty of space. Even if you're not near the sanctuary, you can help protect these threatened sea turtles by properly disposing of your trash and recycling when possible – plastic in the ocean can be easily mistaken for food! Learn more about safeguarding sea turtles in Gray’s Reef. (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Before the USS Monitor sank and became protected by NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, it served as a powerful Union vessel during the Civil War. In 1862, the ironclad warship took to the waters of the East Coast for a series of battles against Confederate crews. In the end, though, it was the forces of nature that brought Monitor down to the ocean floor. Learn more about the Monitor's history . (Photo: The Library of Congress)
Rays like this bat ray in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are searayiously cool! There are many different types of sea rays, and each are known for their flattened bodies. Their "wings" help them gracefully swim through the water and churn up sand to expose small mollusks to eat. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Why, hello there! Today is the 28th anniversary of NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and what better way to celebrate than with Florida’s state marine mammal, the manatee? These marine grazers can weigh up to 3,000 pounds as fully grown adults, and can consume nearly a tenth of their own weight in water grass, algae, and other vegetation in just a day! If you're visiting the Keys, make sure to slow down in manatee habitat to avoid colliding with these slow-moving animals.
(Photo: Keith Ramos/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Stop clowning around! This little nudibranch, spotted in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, is none other than the sea-clown triopha. The word "nudibranch" means "naked gills," describing the feathery gills these sea slugs wear on their backs. What's your favorite nudibranch?(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Flash back to October 23, 1868: the two-masted schooner F.T. Barney was sailing the waters of the Great Lakes. But en route from Cleveland to Milwaukee, it was hit by the schooner T.J. Bronson. In less than two minutes, Barney sank to the floor of Lake Huron – but miraculously, no lives were lost. Today, the wreck is protected as part of NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and remains one of the most complete wrecks of its kind. (Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA)
I believe I can fly! *splash* False killer whales like this one in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument are very social marine animals. As their name implies, though they look a bit like orcas, they're an entirely separate species of dolphin. They are often spotted in small groups of a few individuals, but when they capture prey they will converge and share the meal. Learn more about false killer whales . (Photo: Jim Cotton/NOAA)
We’re sealriously obsessed with gray seals like this one 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)
Happy Veterans Day! This summer, national marine sanctuaries on the West Coast honored the service of our nation’s veterans by dedicating Get Into Your Sanctuary events as “Vet Into Your Sanctuary.” Dozens of veterans enthusiastically participated in activities including ocean film viewing, boating, fishing, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and visitor center activities.(Photo: Lisa Uttal/NOAA)
Meet the fiery state fish of California: the Garibaldi. This feisty fish is found across the California coast and is a common sight in the kelp forests of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. In the spring, male Garibaldis are responsible for creating and defending nests that might attract a female garibaldi to lay her eggs in. However, these fathers-to-be are unforgiving to trespassers, chasing out intruders that inch too close, which includes the female garibaldi after she’s laid her eggs! (Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA)
There’s notang brighter in the sea than the yellow tang! These radiant fish are reef dwellers that thrive in Pacific waters, like those in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Some have been recorded to live for up to 30 years in the wild! (Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA)
With their ragged, protruding teeth, sand tiger sharks may look fearsome, but they're actually quite docile! You can often spot them when diving on shipwrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic like the USS Tarpon, pictured here. Wrecks support bountiful populations of small fish and invertebrates, key snacks for the sand tiger shark!
The USS Tarpon is one wreck that could be protected by the proposed expansion of NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary .
(Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA)
Whale, whale, whale, what do we have here? This energetic humpback whale spotted in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is exhibiting a common whale activity known as breaching. There are many possible motivations for these acrobatic leaps above the water’s surface, including communication with other whales, attracting mates, or just being playful. Humpback whales sure know how to make a splash! (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is home to a fintastic ocean predator: the Pacific bluefin tuna! Pacific bluefin tuna like to feed on squid and smaller fish such as herring and mackerel. And they’re no stranger to the wide open seas, migrating thousands of miles each year to either feed or spawn. They're one of the most impressive fish in the entire tunaverse!(Photo: NOAA)
Oyster toadfish, like this one in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, have a voice unlike any other marine creature! By vibrating their swim bladder muscles, males from this bottom-dwelling species let out foghorn-like calls to serenade nearby females during mating season. Toadally charming, eh? (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Happy birthday to NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! Designated on this day in 1992, these national marine sanctuaries were created to protect critical habitat for humpback whales. Humpbacks and other endangered whales flock to Stellwagen Bank off Cape Cod to feed, while Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale shelters humpbacks every winter as they breed and calve their young in the waters of Hawai‘i. (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
All hail the mighty krill! Despite their tiny size, these shrimp-like crustaceans are powerhouses for ocean ecosystems, serving as a food source for whales, seabirds, fishes, and other marine life. Krill like this one from NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary congregate as they swim, making it easy for predators to scoop them up. Occasionally, massive swarms can be viewed from outer space!
(Photo: Sophie Webb/NOAA)
Dive into the weekend with these melon-headed whales! Spotted here in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, melon-headed whales are characterized by their quick intermittent leaps out of the water as they swim. They like to rest in the morning, socialize in the afternoon, and hunt for fish in the evening. (Photo: Laura Morse/NOAA)
It’s 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! Learn more about these marine mammals .
(Photo: Keith Ramos/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
You can't have Halloween in the ocean without ghost sharks! Also called chimaera or spook fish, ghost sharks haunt the deep seas below 1500 feet in depth, making it difficult to study them in their natural environment. They also detect electrical stimuli from prey to help them hunt in the dark, a phenomenon known as electroreception. Spooky! What's your favorite ocean creature with Halloween spirit? (Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2017)
Tag yourself – which sea lion are you? California sea lions, like this bunch in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, are highly social marine mammals! They often find refuge on manmade structures such as piers and buoys, with big males like the one on the left using these platforms to keep an eye on their environment. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Water you lookin’ at?! This giant trevally is facing divers head on at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument! (Photo: John Burns/NOAA)
The ocean itself inspires me, as well as the staff and dedicated volunteers who are committed to protecting it. I am most inspired by my time spent with school groups of kids who visit the sanctuary and are enthusiastic and excited to learn about their island home and the amazing creatures who live in our ocean." – Jeep Dunning, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary volunteer. What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #14682)
This ochre sea star in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary might have 99 problems, but they can wait ‘til Monday. 😎 (Photo: NPS)
This mother and pup Hawaiian monk seal pair in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is sure to make your heart melt! However, these seals are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. Hawaiian monk seals face threats of habitat loss, fishing gear entanglement, human disturbance, and more. If you come across a monk seal on shore, give it plenty of space so not to disturb it. Learn more about how you can help Hawaiian monk seals .
(Photo: NOAA)
Three common dolphins swimming at the ocean surface in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
We’re turtley excited because today, Earth Is Blue celebrates four years of providing the wonders of the ocean and Great Lakes directly to you! Whether it’s through photos of silly marine critters or a video of the deep seas, through our Earth Is Blue social media campaign, we want aim to make learning about our marine sanctuaries and monuments accessible for all. Where land separates us, the ocean brings us together. We hope our posts can inspire you to care for our big, blue Earth, and to share your enthusiasm for our ocean with others. You can view all the photos we have shared thus far at sanctuaries.noaa.gov/earthisblue. (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, taken in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary)
Our love for the ocean is manta be! Today marks the 46th birthday of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Today, we serve as the trustee for a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 600,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes. It's been a pleasure to serve as stewards for our special marine and Great Lakes places, and we're looking forward to everything to come. Please help us celebrate by sharing your favorite sanctuary memories in the comments! (Photo: Beata Lerman)
The whales are soon to return to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! Each winter, thousands of humpback whales journey down to the warm, shallow waters around the Hawaiian Islands. Here between November and May, they breed, give birth, and raise their young. Whale watching during this time is spectacular, and tons of fun. Just make sure to give whales plenty of space – stay back at least 100 yards. Get tips for responsible whale watching. (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #14682)
"At our house our recycling bin is always twice as full as our garbage bin and we are participating in local movements to reduce single-use plastic straws and bags. And whenever we are outdoors, whether it's at the beach or just walking around town, we try to pick up litter as we go." – Craig Wanous, Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center manager
What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Meet Hopper, a young humpback whale who roams the seas of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! This curious calf gets her name from her habit of spy hopping above the waterline, to check out her surroundings. All clear! (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Ah, just another day at the office! Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary researcher Dr. Michelle Johnston got to take a break from coral surveys to commune with this manta ray. Not a bad way to spend the work day! (Photo: NOAA)
There’s nothing like seeing a bright and healthy coral to uplift your Thursday! Bereef it or not, cauliflower corals like this one in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument aren't actually plants, but animals. Each coral structure is actually a colony of tiny, tiny animals called polyps. These polyps build hefty skeletons, which build up to create a strong coral reef. (Photo: Mark Sullivan/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Like many of us, this albino Risso's dolphin is a big dolfan of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! This juvenile was first spotted with its mother in the sanctuary in 2014, and has been seen occasionally ever since, including earlier this year. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Despite sometimes tragic stories, shipwrecks can serve as habitat for diverse marine life – and can be an amazing place to dive. In NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, an estimated 1,000 wrecks lie scattered on the ocean floor. One of those is the wreck of Benwood, which sank in 1942, pictured here. Have you explored one of the shipwrecks within the sanctuary? We highly wreckommend it! (Photo: Brenda Altmeier/NOAA)
It appears this sailor got a bit too carried away (literally)! Velella velella, or by-the-wind-sailors, drift across the open seas using their chitinous “sails,” which poke above the water’s surface. Despite their free-floating existence, it is not uncommon to find large numbers of Velella velella washed ashore, especially during a bloom. This by-the-wind-sailor jelly was found off the shores of NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park.
(Photo: National Park Service)
A few summers ago our camp of 26 youth and four staff settled down by Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to enjoy lunch. It was a beautiful, calm day. Just as we were about to break into our sandwiches, a golden eagle came speeding only a couple of feet off the beach, and took out a duck in a poof of feathers. Amidst the squawking and flurry of the other birds escaping, thirty of us sat with sandwiches in hand, mouths hanging open. We watched as the golden, after a moment, laboriously took back to the air weighted down by it's limp prey. It flew to a cliff within full sight and began plucking it's lunch as the rest of us excitedly recovered and eventually enjoyed our own lunches with this unexpected guest. You just never know when a spectacular experience like this is going to occur, but the more we protect our resources the better we can ensure that these moments are not too far and few between. " – Alena Porte, Ventana Wildlife Society education manager What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: Tom Koerner/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Share your best caption for this dolphin in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA permit #14097)
Keep your friends close and your anemones closer! This sea snail and sea anemone were spotted hanging out in the deep waters of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument by the crew of the E/V Nautilus. Nautilus Live's adventures will continue in just a few weeks as the ship journeys on to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: OET/NOAA)
A kraken of the depths? Though this Pholidoteuthis adami squid may look devilish, it's actually just trying to blend in with its surroundings. Red light is the first color of light to be filtered out by water, and by the time you get down to the deep sea, the only light available is blue. That blue light doesn't reflect off red animals, so they're much more difficult to see by predators and prey alike! That is, unless you're exploring the ocean with a remotely operated vehicle equipped with bright white lights. (Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research)
Beware! The vampire squid is here to devour your...marine detritus? We squid you not! Despite its sinister name, the vampire squid is only a scavenger, feeding on the “marine snow” that floats throughout the water column. Instead of ejecting ink, this deep-sea dracula will squirt a bioluminescent mucus towards would-be predators if threatened. Talk about a sticky squiduation! This juvenile was spotted in the deep waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: NOAA/Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI))
Before rocket engines used jet propulsion, there was the nautilus! Nautili maneuver through the ocean by expelling water from chambers in their hard external shells. In addition to this unique hard shell, the nautilus can have up 90 tentacles, beating its distant cousins, the octopus and the squid, by far. Check out this nautilus swimming through NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. (Photo: Michelle Johnston/NOAA)
Happy Octopus Day! This sleepy cephalopod appears to have a case of the Mondays. But don’t be fooled, as octopuses like this one in the Gulf of Mexico are highly agile and attentive creatures. Octopuses have the largest brain of any invertebrate – and more than half of their 500 million neurons are located throughout their eight arms. These cephalopods are equipped for quick action, whether they are stealthily hunting prey or defending themselves from likely predators. (Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2017)
"The ocean itself inspires me, as well as the staff and dedicated volunteers who are committed to protecting it. I am most inspired by my time spent with school groups of kids who visit the sanctuary and are enthusiastic and excited to learn about their island home and the amazing creatures who live in our ocean." – Jeep Dunning, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary volunteer What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: R. Finn/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240)
DON'T BE THAT GUY! Humpback whales need your help. Right now, whales are feeding close to shore in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. While it can be tempting to get close to these amazing animals, when you approach them you encroach on the space they need to catch anchovies and other prey. Plus, you put yourself in danger – a humpback whale can weigh more than 50 tons, and you don't want that weight accidentally slamming in to you as a whale breaches or lunges to the surface to catch its prey. If you're as close as this kayaker is to a whale, you are WAY TOO CLOSE. As a rule of thumb, stay 100 yards away from whales; do not cross in front of them, pursue them from behind, or surround them. If you're approached by a whale, drift until the whale moves away. And if you see someone approaching a whale, speak up! Tell others to give the whales plenty of space, and you can report whale harassment or injury to the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Lunge into the weekend with these lunge feeding humpback whales! This photograph by Douglas Croft, taken in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, is the first-place winner of the Sanctuary Life category. Congratulations, Douglas! Missed the other winners? Never fear – See all the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest winners and submissions . (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
We pelican't believe how beautiful this photo is! Sam Bailey's photo of a brown pelican in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary flew into second place of the Sanctuary Life photo contest category. Congratulations, Sam! See all the photo contest winners (Photo: Sam Bailey)
Psst – this goldentail moray eel wants to tell you a secret. This week, we're celebrating the winners of the Sanctuary Life category of the 2018 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Steve Miller takes third place with this photo of an eel peeking out from behind a blushing star coral in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. See all the photo contest winners . (Photo: Steve Miller)
Nap time? We're otterly convinced. Sea otters like these in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary have a thick blanket of fur – roughly a million hairs per square inch! – to keep them cozy while they snooze. (Photo © Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Dive in to history at the USS Tarpon! One of the many vessels resting in the Graveyard of the Atlantic off the coast of North Carolina, Tarpon was a submarine that fought in World War II. It was the first U.S. submarine to sink a German raider in the Pacific. This summer, archaeologists from NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary documented the wreck. Stay tuned in the coming months to learn about what they found! (Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA)
"I got scuba certified in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and for the first time I got to see marine organisms thriving in beautiful coastal waters. This inspired me to put my efforts in environmental education and conservation. I am proud that I get to inspire and educate the next generation of marine stewards and scientists." – Gabrielle Genhart-Stiehler, NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary AmeriCorps Service Member What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Ready to nap the weekend away? So is this sea otter in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Sea otters often wrap themselves up in a nice little blanket of kelp to keep them from drifting too far while they take a quick snooze. If you're exploring the sanctuary or other areas with sea otters, make sure to give them plenty of space. While it's tempting to get a closer view of the adorable floof that is a sleeping otter, they need their rest! Each time you approach an otter, you're interrupting the time it needs to rest, feed, or otherwise maintain its health. (Photo © Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Take a trip to NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary with the first-place winner of the Sanctuary Portraits category! Bryan Dort captured this gorgeous photo of a stand-up paddleboarder floating over the shipwreck of the steamer Albany. Albany has rested on the bottom of Lake Huron since it ran aground in 1853. Today, it is a popular destination for snorkelers and paddlers. Congratulations to Bryan! See all the photo contest winners . (Photo: Bryan Dort)
Is there anything more glorious than sunrise in a national marine sanctuary? This self-portrait of a hiker at sunrise above NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary placed second in the Sanctuary Portraits category of this year's Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. Congratulations to Doug Mangum! See all the photo contest winners . (Photo: Doug Mangum)
This week, we're bringing you the winning photos in the Sanctuary Portraits category of the 2018 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. In third place is Katy Danca Galli, with this serene photo of boys fishing for tarpon in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Congratulations to Katy! See all the photo contest winners . (Photo: Katy Danca Galli)
Happy birthday to NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary! The only national marine sanctuary in the Great Lakes, this great sanctuary protects more than 200 historic shipwrecks that tell the story of our maritime past. This is the wreck of Monohansett, a wooden steam barge that sank in 1907 after a fire. Today, the propeller and several other features remain. This propeller is an impressive 14 feet across! (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
We're pawsitively thrilled at this week is Sea Otter Awareness Week! These otterly amazing creatures have made an incredible comeback all along the West Coast, including in places like Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. After extensive hunting in the 1700s and 1800s, only about 50 otters were left in California. Thanks to conservation efforts, there are now nearly 3,000! You can help these cuties thrive by giving them plenty of space when you're exploring the California coastline. Though it may be tempting to get close, each human-otter interaction takes away valuable time sea otters would otherwise spend resting, socializing, or eating. (Photo © Monterey Bay Aquarium)
"I grew up playing on the beach at my family's waterfront cabin on the Hood Canal in Washington, so the ocean, tide pools, and salt water was a huge part of my childhood. As I got older I knew that I wanted to help protect places like that so that future generations could find the same kind of adventure and experiential learning I did as a child. Because I work with K-12 students so much, I try and make sure that I'm an environmental role model to them." – Christine VanDeen, NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary AmeriCorps service member What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
Happy anniversary to NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and happy National Public Lands Day to everyone! While you're exploring your public lands and waters today, give some credit to the organisms that hold up entire ecosystems. Giant kelp, for example, may just seem like any old seaweed, but this enormous algae grows into forests that support lush habitats. In the kelp forests of the Channel Islands and other national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast, you'll find sea lions, juvenile fish, and more! (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Drum roll please...First place in the Sanctuary Views category goes to Donna Hendricks! Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island comes by its name honestly. From up here, you get a tremendous view of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park – including Santa Cruz Island and Santa Rosa Island in the distance. Congratulations to Donna and all the Sanctuary Views winners! Check out all the winners of the 2018 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. (Photo: Donna Hendricks)
Second place in the Sanctuary Views category goes to Sam Bailey! Big wave action in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is caused by weather systems further north, as far away as Alaska. Even Brandt's cormorants seem mesmerized by the show! Check out all the winners of the 2018 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. (Photo: Sam Bailey)
Winners of the 2018 Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest have been decided! Check them all out. This week, we'll be featuring the winning photos from the Sanctuary Views category! Stephanie Loewe takes third place with this beautiful – but chilly – view of Bell Bay in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Congratulations to Stephanie!(Photo: Stephanie Loewe)
Time to seal-ebrate – it's the 26th anniversary of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! This sanctuary protects more than 6,000 square miles off the coast of California. It's home to more than 35 species of marine mammals – including elephant seals like these. What's your favorite thing about Monterey Bay? (Photo: Phil Adams)
Researchers at Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary dolphinitely got a treat when these Atlantic spotted dolphins decided to investigate the remotely operated vehicle! (Photo: NOAA/UNCW-UVP)
"The National Marine Sanctuary System draws people to the wonder of water environments such as the ocean and Great Lakes. I am most proud of being able to interpret the wonders of humpback whales, monk seals and sea turtles to people who visit our sanctuary." – Michelle Paularena, NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA permit 15240)
Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere – today is the International Coastal Cleanup! Whether you're participating in an organized cleanup event today or not, head out to your favorite beach today and do what you can to fight marine debris. Not near a beach? You can still help keep our ocean clean by keeping your local streams and river clear of trash, using reusable shopping bags and drink containers, opting not to use plastic straws if you don't need them, and spreading the word about the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy ocean. (Photo: NOAA)
Tomorrow is the International Coastal Cleanup! Will you be joining in to help make our ocean and beaches cleaner and safer for marine life? Learn more and find an event near you at . Last year's cleanup resulted resulted in more than 10,000 tons of trash collected by over 789,000 volunteers covering almost 18,000 miles! (Photo: Ryan Tabata/NOAA)
Why should you reduce your use of plastic and always dispose of your trash properly? Well, for one thing, you'll be helping to protect marine animals like this leatherback sea turtle! One of the major issues with plastic in the ocean is that it's easily mistaken for food by hungry animals. Leatherback turtles like this one in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, for example, primarily eat jellies. And a plastic bag floating on the ocean surface looks a lot like one of those jellies! So always strive to reduce, reuse, recycle – and refuse! By reducing how much plastic we use, we help these sea creatures live long and healthy lives. Find resources to help you go DebrisFree. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Marine debris can have impacts no matter its size, from microplastics to large debris. Fishing gear, for example, can entangle large marine mammals like this humpback whale in NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Fortunately, teams of intrepid individuals are on the scene to help whales like this one. In Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network is a partnership of government state agencies, tour operators, fishers, and more who work together to free whales. This collaboration has freed more than 23 whales from entangling gear! If you see an entangled whale or other animal, please don't try to disentangle it yourself! These are large, wild animals that may be scared or panicked, and you put both yourself and the whale in danger by getting into the water with it. Instead, contact your local marine mammal stranding network .(Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under MMHSRP permit #932-1489)
Ah, the beauty of a crystal clear sea – but is it really so clean? When we think of trash and plastic in the ocean, many of us picture big piles of large debris floating on the ocean surface. But the truth is that most of the plastic in the ocean is so small we can't even really see it. We call this microplastic. Plastic doesn't biodegrade; instead it breaks down into tiny, tiny pieces. Microplastics have been found in the stomachs of many marine organisms, from plankton to whales, and they can leach contaminants into the water. Because they're so small, they're incredibly difficult to remove from the ocean – you can't just scoop them out easily! So one of the best ways to stop microplastics from affecting our ocean is to keep plastics out of the water in the first place. What choices will you make today to help keep debris out of the ocean? Let us know in the comments! (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
Take a minute to think about the plastic you've used so far today. Did you get your coffee in a to-go cup with a plastic lid? Grab lunch takeout from the restaurant down the street? Get a plastic bag from the grocery store? Plastics are, of course, useful, but many of them end up in the trash and in the ocean. Because plastics don't biodegrade, they can persist in the environment for a long, long time. There, they can leach chemicals into the ocean, be mistaken for food by marine animals, and entangle marine life. The good news is that you can help! Say no to single-use plastic, recycle whenever possible, and get involved in local beach and watershed cleanups, and you can help keep our ocean and waterways clean and healthy. This week, we'll be bringing you information about marine debris and how you can help solve this problem. What questions do you have about trash in the ocean? (Photo: NOAA)
"I came to work for NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary because I believe that in order to help preserve the biodiversity of our planet, we need healthy wilderness habitats. Our ocean offers the greatest example of wilderness but with the added challenge of remoteness. These habitats are harder for humans to reach and less known, but are equally impacted by human actions. Having a job that offers me the opportunity to make connections for people with the natural world is inspiring and a gift." – Jody Patterson, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary events and volunteer coordinator What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
In NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, you can explore history beneath the waves! The cold, clear waters of Lake Huron help preserve the sanctuary's historic shipwrecks – and make it easy to see the shipwrecks while diving, snorkeling, or paddling. This is the wreck of Portland, which has rested in just six feet of water since it sank in 1877.(Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
This octopus is much smaller than the mythical sea monster of old, but they both come from the deep sea. It was spotted in the Gulf of Mexico during a research expedition aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. (Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2018)
Mangrove magic! Mangroves are the key to the coastline in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Their dense roots lock the shoreline in place and diffuse energy from waves during storms. These natural buffers are a vital protection for island communities like the Florida Keys. Plus, they provide habitat to many creatures, including young fish seeking refuge from predators. (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Wishing you could go back to the long weekend? Take a mid-week break by imagining yourself on the beautiful shores of Ruby Beach in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park. (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Sometimes spotted in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Risso's dolphins are easily identifiable by their white scars. These scars may be made by other Risso's dolphins or by squid, their preferred prey. These dolphins feed mostly at night, hunting squid that move toward the surface. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images/ Monterey Bay Marine Life Studies, under NOAA Fisheries Service Permit #20519)
In your national marine sanctuaries, you can get a glimpse of the world beneath the waves – and in many sanctuaries, you can experience the depths of the night sky. On a calm, clear night in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries videographer Nick Zachar captured this beautiful long exposure photo of the Milky Way. What's your favorite sanctuary to stargaze in? (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
"I am fortunate to live only four blocks from the Gulf of Mexico, so visiting the beach to connect with the ocean is a regular experience. Just sitting next to it, feeling the breeze come off the water, watching the seagulls and other birds go about their business, sifting through all of the little shells washed up by the waves – all of these are connections for me." – Shelley Du Puy, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary education & outreach coordinator (Photo: GP Schmahl/NOAA)
Plastic trash can travel through watersheds and throughout the ocean. There, it breaks down into smaller pieces that animals may easily confuse for food. This is particularly a problem for seabirds like Laysan albatrosses, which skim the ocean surface for food and pick up plastic along the way. They then regurgitate the plastic to their chicks, who cannot digest it and may die as a result. This Laysan albatross – and many others like it – was born on Kure Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which is largely uninhabited and located more than a thousand miles from any major city. It died with a stomach full of debris. Your trash travels, so make sure to clean up after yourself and others to help keep wildlife safe and healthy. (Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA)
Corals are stationary animals that build hard skeletons to protect their colonies. So how do they reproduce and ensure the genetic diversity of future generations? Earlier this month, the reef-building corals of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary spawned, releasing reproductive material into the water column where it has the opportunity to mix and produce larvae. Those larvae will drift along in the ocean until they find a suitable place to settle, and there they'll grow into a new generation of corals! (Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA)
This Pacific white-sided dolphin is nofin if not acrobatic! These agile dolphins undertake incredible maneuvers like this on porpoise. This gymnast of a dolphin was spotted in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Humpback whales, like this one in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, have long flippers with bumps called tubercules on them. These tubercules make the humpback whale flippers more hydrodynamic, increasing humpback whale agility and helping the whales maneuver when catching fish. Researchers are studying this flipper shape to understand how to make more efficient wind turbines! (Photo: Dru Devlin/NOAA/Pt. Blue/ACCESS)
Goliath groupers can weigh up to 800 pounds! Once plentiful in the Florida Keys, these enormous fish were overfished almost to the vanishing point before regulations prohibited their harvest in U.S. waters in 1990. Now Goliath grouper populations are on the rebound in protected places like Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Rocky reefs within Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary provide habitat for fish, invertebrates, seaweeds, and more. The giant plumose anemone is common on vertical walls, where they filter water for food. These anemones can reach three feet in height when their tentacles are fully extended!
"I once had a single, small damselfish follow alongside me for whole hour as I swam across a bay from end to end. I'm not sure why it behaved that way – maybe it was habituated to people and thought I would feed it, or maybe it was just using me for cover from a reef shark that was also hanging around the area at the time. Regardless of the reason, the companionship struck me and the memory has lasted for years. It reminds me that every interaction we have with the natural world, even something as unassuming as a snorkel excursion, can affect some piece of that ecosystem – not necessarily in an obviously negative or positive way. You are always more than a spectator, whether you mean to be or not. I believe we all have a duty to be conscious of that implied responsibility." – Chiara Zuccarino-Crowe, Michigan Sea Grant outreach coordinator (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Plunge into the weekend with a dive in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary! This popular sanctuary supports more than 6,000 species of plants, fishes, and invertebrates, and is an ideal spot for diving, paddling, fishing, and more. (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
What do you think these pigeon guillemots in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary are talking about? (Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
Picturing yourself in this paradise? National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is the perfect place to escape to, even if it's just in your mind! This remote national marine sanctuary preserves incredible biodiversity, as well as rich cultural history. (Photo: NOAA)
What are the speckles on this baby squid? Chromatophores! Chromatophores are special pigmented cells that enable squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish to rapidly change color and texture. This color-changing skill helps them camouflage themselves with their surroundings, and also assists with communication. This baby squid was found in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary by researchers with the ACCESS Partnership. ACCESS conducts regular monitoring expeditions within national marine sanctuaries in California to better understand habitat and ecosystem conditions. (Photo: Ryan Anderson/NOAA/Pt. Blue/ACCESS)
This white-spotted rose anemone in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is devouring an unlucky bat star. Sea anemones may appear to be flower-like blobs, but this diverse group of invertebrates has many feeding styles and are typically carnivorous! They can eat fish, jellyfish, crabs, sea stars, and even other anemones. (Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
Every winter, thousands of humpback whales make their way to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. In the warm waters surrounding Hawai‘i, these whales mate, calve, and nurse their young. In the sanctuary, mothers can be seen swimming alongside their calves, while males can be seen competing with one another for females in fierce head-to-head battles. Learn more about the sanctuary at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov ! (Photo: Karen Grosskreutz/NOAA, under NOAA permit #15240)
"Being able to give back to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as a docent at the Sanctuary Exploration Center has been a privilege and an honor. Being able to see this Serengeti of the Sea through the eyes of people from all over the globe is a thrill." – Sandy Cohen, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary volunteer docent (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
More than 200 species of fish seek shelter and food in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary – including belted sandfish like these. Here in this rocky area off the coast of Georgia, you'll find fish, sponges, crabs, soft corals, and more! (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Humpback whale flippers are huge – up to one-third the length of the whale's body! These flippers are what inspired its scientific name, Megaptera, which means "big-winged." (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under MMHSRP Permit #20311)
Did you know the largest sea turtle in the world can be found in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, just off the coast of California? Leatherback sea turtles like this one can be more than six feet long and weigh more than 2,000 pounds. These huge turtles have a big appetite for jellyfish – look closely, and you can see the tentacles of a sea nettle jelly hanging out of this one's mouth. That food preference puts them especially at risk from marine debris, as floating plastic bags and other plastics look remarkably like swimming jellies. Help protect these endangered sea turtles and always dispose of your trash properly! (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Look at these baby dinosaurs – er, snowy egrets – in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary! These awkward-looking chicks will one day grow up to be elegant, long-legged adults. (Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
This hawksbill sea turtle in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is cruising through Turtle Tuesday. Sea turtles may seem to move slowly, but their flippers make them efficient swimmers and they can migrate thousands of miles across the globe. Who knows where this sea turtle will travel next? (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA)
The world looks a little different when you're out at sea! The research team in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument took this 360-degree photo last year during an expedition to monitor intertidal organisms. (Photo: NOAA)
"I am really proud to be affiliated with the great shearwater research program in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary as a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar. The team tags birds with satellite tags each summer while taking a wealth of other data and samples from each tagged individual, and has so far identified some important trends in seabird habitat use and feeding preferences. This tagging work is both novel and highly valuable for fisheries management and seabird ecology. The team also gets to use fish gut catapults and other ingenious field gear to make the tagging happen, obviously making these research trips a big highlight of my year!" – Anna Robuck, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar & URI Graduate School of Oceanography Ph.D. student (Photo: NOAA)
Check out this beautiful purple giant clam in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! Once nestled into a location on the reef, giant clams remain stationary throughout life, and play a major role in reef community structure. Like corals, giant clams have developed symbiotic relationships with algae called zooxanthellae. In return for shelter, zooxanthellae provide giant clams with nutrients they've photosynthesized. (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight! The rich waters of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary support a tremendous diversity of marine invertebrates. (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Cormorants are just one of many varieties of seabird found in sanctuaries like Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. But unlike many seabirds, cormorant feathers aren't coated in a waterproofing oil. That means these birds have to spend much of their time sunning themselves and drying their wings. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Get a close-up glimpse of this North Atlantic right whale's baleen! Many whales have hundreds of plates of keratin – the same material that makes up your fingernails – that hang down from their upper jaw. These plates are known as baleen, and act like a strainer. The whale takes in a big gulp of water (and krill or fish), closes its mouth, pushes the water out through the baleen, and then slurps down the krill or fish left behind in its mouth. That way they get a belly full of food, and not saltwater! Each year, North Atlantic right whales travel north to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Massachusetts to feed. North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, with only a few hundred left. Find out how the sanctuary is helping to protect them . (Photo: Peter Flood)
How do researchers track ecosystem health in our West Coast national marine sanctuaries? With regular surveys! The ACCESS Partnership supports marine wildlife conservation and healthy marine ecosystems by conducting regular ocean research throughout Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The data we collect helps resource managers understand ocean conditions and how they're changing over time. Here, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary research coordinator Danielle Lipski (right) and student intern Grace Kumaishi (left) process zooplankton samples that were collected from 100 meters below the ocean surface. (Photo: Jaime Jahncke, NOAA/GFA/Pt. Blue/ACCESS)
Why hello – I didn't seal you there! This curious pinniped is none other than a Hawaiian monk seal, or ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua in Hawaiian. Though they are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, there is some good news -- populations have increased by three percent annually for the past three years thanks to work by NOAA and our partners. Today, about 1,100 live in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, while an additional 300 reside in the Main Hawaiian Islands. If you see a Hawaiian monk seal on the beach or in the ocean, please let us know so we can better understand and track this endangered species! Get more info on how to how to report sightings . (Photo: Andrew Gray/NOAA)
Volunteers help make sanctuaries fantastic places to visit and play. In Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, for example, Team OCEAN volunteers are trained naturalists who kayak throughout the sanctuary. These naturalists serve as docents on the water, teaching visitors about respectful wildlife viewing and the incredible ecosystems of the sanctuary. (Photo: Amity Wood/NOAA)
Two surfers stand on the beach at sunset in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
Every August, seven to 10 days after the full moon, the reef-building corals within the sanctuary put on a fantastic spawning display, on
Located in Lake Huron, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary protects one of the best-preserved and nationally-significant collections of shipwrecks in the United States. Here, a snorkeler explores the wreck of the two-masted schooner Portland, which sank in 1877. While many of the wrecks within the sanctuary are deep and only accessible by divers, Portland rests in a shallow area only six feet beneath the surface. That makes it easy to explore while snorkeling or kayaking! (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Wheeeeee! This California sea lion is having a blast leaping out of the water in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. What do you think the sea lion in the foreground thinks of all this revelry? (Photo: Jeff Harris/NOAA)
Feeding frenzy! Each summer, humpback whales are drawn to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for its abundance of food sources like anchovies. Humpback whales use a number of feeding techniques, including lunge feeding, pictured here. When lunge feeding, a whale moves quickly toward the surface and opens its mouth, taking a huge gulp of water so its throat pleats expand. It then closes its mouth and pushes the water out through its baleen, filtering the water so that fish and krill are left behind in its mouth. Yum!(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
A fossilized wasp nest in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary? Not quite! This is a tafoni formation, also known as honeycomb weathering. The divots are created over time when salty air and saltwater hit sandstone and collect in small depressions on the rock. (Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
"Before I was the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument superintendent, I served as a member of a multi-agency team that spent a month in the monument removing nets and other discarded debris from the reefs and islands. We spent hours each day searching for and removing nets tangled on reefs that could have been entanglement hazards for all the protected and unique species that inhabit these remote islands. In a month we pulled over 20 tons of nets, buoys, line, and other debris off the reefs and shorelines. It was an incredibly rewarding experience and a daily reminder of why we need to do all we can to keep our ocean clean and healthy." – Athline Clark, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument superintendent (Photo: NOAA)
Look out! This tiger shark (niuhi in Hawaiian) is about to snag a Laysan albatross snack in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Because of their association with shark attacks – and those impressive teeth – tiger sharks are feared by many people. But sharks like the tiger shark are incredibly important animals in ocean environments, helping keep ecosystems in balance. This Shark Week, thank a shark for keeping our ocean healthy! (Photo: Ilana Nimz/NOAA)
When surveying shipwrecks throughout the Graveyard of the Atlantic, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary archaeologists often get to see sand tiger sharks like this one! Sand tiger sharks look fearsome due to their rows of protruding, ragged teeth. But in reality, they're quite docile! Shipwrecks serve as artificial reefs along the seafloor, attracting small fish and invertebrates, which are exactly what sand tiger sharks are interested in. Diving on a shipwreck? Give sand tiger sharks plenty of space and they'll do the same for you. (Photo: NOAA)
This Shark Week, don't forget to think about shark habitat! Mangroves like these in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary serve as nurseries for sharks and other organisms. Mangroves are trees that grow in coastal waters, creating a dense tangle of roots throughout shallow water. These roots provide shelter to young sharks, which can prey on other small creatures that make their home in the mangroves. (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Not all sharks are big! Spiny dogfish, like this one in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, are only three or four feet long. But though they are little, they are fierce. Sharp venomous spines on front of each dorsal fin protect them from predators, and they relentlessly pursue prey like fishes, crabs, and squid. (Photo: Rick Starr/NOAA)
Sharks – like this sandbar shark in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary – have several adaptations that make them excellent predators. Specialized organs called ampullae of Lorenzini help sharks sense electric fields in the water generated by other fish. Their eyes, too, are specially adapted: all shark eyes have a tapetum lucidum, a layer of mirrored crystals located behind the retina, allowing them to see in in low light conditions and up to ten times better than humans in clear water. Despite these adaptations, sandbar sharks and other sharks typically pose little threat to humans. We're more dangerous to them than they are to us! (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
A shark swims above a coral reef in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. (Photo: John Burns/NOAA)
"I often think of the connectivity of the National Marine Sanctuary System. I think, for example, of elephant seals that may pass through Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary before making their way to Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Although we still have a lot to do for marine conservation, knowing that these sanctuaries provide habitat for all walks of marine life, from marine mammals to crustaceans, reminds me that we have done so much good already and we are only going to continue to do better." –Nissa Kriedler, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
A special mucus layer on anemonefish – like these two in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa – allows them to live among anemones without being stung. In return for the protection the anemone provides, the anemone gets food leftovers from the fish. Plus, the anemonefish is quite protective of its home, so it chases away anything that might be interested in chowing down on the anemone! (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
A turtley awesome success story! Last year, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary partnered with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to conduct assessments of suspected and known shipwrecks off North Carolina. On their way out to one site, researchers teamed up with NC Wildlife Resources Commission to bring along two rehabilitated sea turtles for release. This is a juvenile hawksbill named Puck, who got to go home to the ocean! (Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA)
Find a different world beneath the waves at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary! Tatoosh Island in the sanctuary has numerous channels, arches, and overhands. The giant plumose anemone is common on vertical walls, and filters water as it passes by. What else can you spot in this underwater view? (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA, in collaboration with The Ocean Agency)
Coral: animal, vegetable, or mineral? Animal! Corals are actually made up of tiny animals called polyps. These polyps have little tentacles that they use to reach out and grab food, which they funnel in toward their stomach. Most coral polyps are nocturnal and retract inside the coral skeleton during the day. But on a night dive in places like Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary you might get to see the polyps in action! (Photo: GP Schmahl/NOAA)
Take a deep breath and imagine you're swimming through the warm waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary like this glorious humpback whale! (Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under NOAA permit 14682)
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary protects thriving kelp forests, bustling tide pools, and more. Here, you'll find more than a million seabirds, waterfowl, and shorebirds, as well as 29 species of marine mammals – including sea lions! (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
"Our nonprofit partnered with Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to bring 350 students to their sanctuary this year. Many of the students had never been to the ocean. To culminate their classroom lessons about marine debris, elementary students from Paso Robles, California, took a field trip to sanctuary. On the trip, the students noticed a bird in distress at the end of a pier, caught in discarded fishing line. They notified park rangers who captured the bird. The students helped transport the bird to the nearby wildlife rehabilitation center. It was the most memorable marine debris lesson ever!" – Gregory Ellis, One Cool Earth executive director (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Sharks get a bad rap, but they're actually incredibly important animals in ocean environments. For one thing, sharks help remove dead or decaying debris from the ocean. This shark was photographed at Pearl and Hermes Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Ssea spiders are actually arthropods related to crustaceans and insects. This one was spotted in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
What're you looking at? This startling photo of a coralline sculpin placed third in Save Our Shores' Waves and Wildlife Photo Contest celebrating Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Coralline sculpins use their color and texture as camouflage that helps them hide from bigger fish and birds that might eat them! (Photo: Phil Lemley)
Talk about the golden hour! This gorgeous photo of a sunset at Point Lobos placed 2nd in Save Our Shores' Waves and Wildlife Photo Contest celebrating Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. What's your favorite place to watch the sunset over the sanctuary? (Photo: Amelia Olson)
This ethereal image of a harbor seal in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was the winner of Save Our Shores' Waves and Wildlife Photo Contest celebrating the sanctuary! Harbor seals are one of more than 30 species of marine mammals found in the sanctuary, and can be spotted swimming through kelp forests and basking on and near shore. (Photo: Michael Langhans)
Each year, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary holds a student art contest in partnership with Massachusetts Marine Educators. Winchester High School 9th-grader Amy Wang won the "Scientific Illustration" category this year with her beautiful illustration of sea butterflies. Congratulations, Amy! (Image: Amy Wang)
"It was 3:42 am. Still pitch black outside and bleary-eyed, I scarfed down a croissant before my 4 am watch. That morning was miserable. I seldom get sea sick, but I couldn't keep my croissant down; needless to say, I was not looking forward spending the next four hours sitting in a dark shipping container trying to focus on monitors. But, when I stumbled up to the control van, I became transfixed on the screens. Dozens of beautiful bamboo corals extended out from a rocky wall like elegant fingers. A crab, perched on the wall, began to scuttle across and I quickly forgot about my seasickness and was instead mesmerized by the majesty of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. From the sea surface, you would never guess such stunning environments were just beneath the water in complete darkness! It was such a treat to see such a rare glimpse of the benthos and I was even more excited in anticipation of learning the stories of the deep sea through the chemistry of the corals in order to help protect their habitat." – Carina Fish, UC Davis/Bodega Marine Laboratory - University of California, Davis graduate student (Photo: OET/NOAA)
Snowy egrets are one of many bird species found throughout Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
Broken-up ice lines the shore of Lake Huron. (Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA)
Trash travels: every year, NOAA staff journey out to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to remove literal TONS of debris from these remote islands. Though the islands are largely uninhabited, ocean currents carry trash to their shores from far and wide, putting animals like albatross, Hawaiian monk seals, and green sea turtles at risk. What will you do to help keep these islands – and other ocean habitats – debris free? (Photo: Koa Matsuoka)
A close-up view of a fish-eating anemone in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
Parasitic jaegers often chase other birds and force them to drop their food. (Photo: Peter Flood)
Trash we discard here on land can make its way into the sea, where it travels into distant ecosystems. This plastic bag, for example, was lying at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico all the way at 5,250 feet – almost a mile down! By refusing, reducing, reusing, repurposing, and recycling, you can help reduce marine debris and negative impacts on wildlife throughout the ocean. (Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research)
"I worked for a wildlife charter before working for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. I witnessed plastic pollution in various forms. I witnessed two turtles bound by plastic outside of Yokohama Bay. Authorities were notified and the turtles were disentangled. I've also retrieved plastic bags from the water – removing just one bag could potentially remove at least one animal from harm's way. Like the National Marine Sanctuary System, we all rely on each other's actions for improvement and change. One person can't save the world, but we can save lives. It's up to each one of us to do our part to save these animals and oceans. As each saved life accumulates, these efforts can and will be noticeable globally." – Caroline Jackson, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument administrative assistant (Photo: NOAA)
How do animals like orcas perfect the skills they need to survive? With plenty of practice! This young orca in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is practicing the tail-slap, a hunting technique that helps stun prey. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images/Monterey Bay Marine Life Studies, under NMFS permit #20519)
While it may look like this sea lion in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary is waving, it's likely actually regulating its temperature. Sea lions use their flippers to help cool down. Their flippers have less blubber than the rest of their body, so heat can escape from the flipper's surface when sea lions hold them above the water. (Photo: Dru Devlin/NOAA)
A bat ray near Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. These graceful creatures use their fins to expose buried prey like clams and other mollusks. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Many white grunts swim around staghorn coral in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Daryl Duda, submission to the 2017 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest )
A levitating dolphin? Not quite! When small cetaceans like this common dolphin make low leaps near the surface of the water while they travel, they are said to be porpoising. There are several theories about why dolphins leap like this, but some researchers believe it enables them to save energy. (Photo: Peter Flood, taken near Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary)
Dive in to your week like this snorkeler at Rose Atoll Marine National Monument in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! Then take a break from work and go on a virtual tour . (Photo: Ian Shive/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
"I believe actions speak louder than words and that it is essential to lead by example and show integrity in everything we do. I encourage my family to conserve water and respect wild and marine life. I try to inspire my family to appreciate nature. I also encourage my family to not litter and not be wasteful." – Jen L., NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries environmental compliance coordinator (Photo: Maria Brown/NOAA)
A portrait of a Brandt's cormorant underwater. This photo was a submission to the 2017 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest . (Photo: Curtis Wee)
A humpback whale surfacing and exhaling. A rainbow refracts above it.(Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
In their larval stage, squid are tiny and translucent. Your national marine sanctuaries provide refuge for young squid and octopuses to grow to adulthood! (Photo: Matt Wilson/Jay Clark/NOAA)
A day octopus – or he’e mauli in Hawaiian – sits pretty at Pearl and Hermes Atoll 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)
A kraken of the depths? Not quite – but this octopus WAS spotted in the deep sea. Many different octopus species live in deep waters! Researchers from NOAA and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) glimpsed this octopus, Graneledone boreopacifica, hanging out at a depth of 6473 feet in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary among some deep-sea corals. (Photo: NOAA/MBARI)
This common octopus in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is coming out of its hiding place to see what all the fuss is about. What's your favorite sanctuary cephalopod? (Photo: Tim Henkel/Valdosta State University)
"I am excited to have the special opportunity to share these treasures with the public through storytelling and video. It is a dream of mine to tell stories of conservation and environmental stewardship, and I am really proud to tell these stories within the National Marine Sanctuary System." – Nick Zachar, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries videographer (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
Green sea turtles are often seen in many of your national marine sanctuaries – including Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. In Hawaiian, these turtles are known as honu. Have you seen one while visiting your sanctuaries? (Photo: Ali Bayless/NOAA)
This green sea turtle and Hawaiian monk seal are exhausted from all the celebrating! Both of these at-risk species find safe haven in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument , which protects more than 580,000 square miles of ocean and atolls in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. (Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA, under NMFS Research Permit #10137)
What's the smallest sea turtle in the world? The Kemp's ridley turtle! These wee sea turtles only grow to about two feet in length – from the tiny tiny hatchling size of 1.5 inches. These endangered turtles can be found throughout the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. Atlantic seaboard. This one was spotted off the coast of Hatteras, North Carolina, not too far from NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. If you're lucky, you might also see them in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Peter Flood)
Did you know you can find sea turtles at every single site within the National Marine Sanctuary System, with the exception of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary? It's true! Our sanctuary system protects crucial habitat and breeding grounds for many species of sea turtles. In Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, for example, you'll find both loggerheads and hawksbills – the photo here shows a hawksbill. These relatively small turtles search in the holes and crevices of coral reefs to find sponges and other invertebrates to eat. (Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA)
One of the major threats to sea turtles is entanglement in fishing gear and other marine debris. Each year, threatened green sea turtles make their way to breeding grounds in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Although these islands are largely uninhabited and are protected by Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, ocean currents carry enormous quantities of trash here from around the world. More than 50 tons of debris enters monument waters each year! Here, fishing nets and other debris can entangle breeding adults and young hatchlings. You can help protect these and other sea turtles by reducing the amount of plastic you use and participating in beach and watershed cleanups. What actions will you take? (Photo: Andy Collins/NOAA)
This endangered hawksbill turtle wants to be sure you know! Hawksbills are just one of several species of sea turtle found within the waters of NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Look closely and you can see a GPS-linked satellite tag on its shell. This tag helps NOAA researchers track its movements, so we can better understand which habitats are critical for hawksbill recovery. (Photo: Don McLeish/NOAA)
Ocean Guardianship in action! Second grader Cassie Munoz created this airplane as part of her school's airplane design contest. Her goal was to reuse the straws in her family's home and to raise awareness about the amount of plastic that enters our ocean. Be inspired by Cassie and say no to straws, and help reduce plastic pollution! You can learn more about the Ocean Guardian School Program . (Photo: Ann Munoz)
Hot pink in the deep sea? When exploring the deep ocean, researchers will often spot creatures that appear pink or red when we shine a light on them – like this jelly in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. That coloration is actually an evolutionary advantage! Red light doesn't penetrate to ocean depths, so a red fish or jelly will essentially be invisible. Read more about this ocean phenomenon . (Photo: NOAA)
A gray whale mother and her calf swim through the surface of a kelp forest in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Squat lobsters like this one spend most of their lives on the sea floor, though juveniles will swarm throughout the water column to feed on plankton. Although we call them lobsters, they are actually more closely related to hermit crabs. (Photo: NOAA)
Common dolphins like these are one of 36 species of marine mammals found in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. What other species can you name? Can you name all 36? (Photo: Karen Grimmer/NOAA)
Your national marine sanctuaries protect all sorts of ecosystems, including coral reefs – like this gorgeous one at Rose Atoll in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Coral reefs support enormous biodiversity – you'll find more species per unit in these reefs than any other ecosystem on Earth. Plus, they harbor lush fisheries, protect our coastlines from storm surge and erosion, and support to local economies through tourism. This World Environment Day, thank a coral reef! (Photo: Ian Shive/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
This Hawaiian monk seal made its own flower crown for a seal-fie! These endangered seals haul out on beaches throughout Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to rest and look generally fabulous. Make sure to give them plenty of space so they can enjoy their time on the beach!
"There is incredible diversity in each sanctuary on our planet that we work to protect, it's absolutely inspiring. People of all ages, from all different backgrounds, come together to fight for something so vitally important and beautiful. Once you explore it, you're hooked. I try to be a member on as many conservation boards as I can and educate myself and others on the future of our oceans and waters. For me, it's always a very rewarding experience to bring people out to NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, to really SHOW them rather than tell them. It's easy to become inspired in a sanctuary as beautiful as in the Channel Islands." – Michael Cohen, Channel Islands Adventure Company founder (Photo: Cindy Shaw)
How did the fulmar get its name? This seabird's name comes from Old Norse for "foul gull." To defend themselves and their nest site, fulmar chicks will projectile vomit a foul-smelling stomach oil. How's that for a tern-off?
(Photo: Peter Pearsall/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary has fish in spades – spadefish, that is! Divers visiting this sanctuary off the coast of Georgia are often surrounded by schooling fish like these. Learn about diving in your sanctuaries.(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
"Hey, I'm flying here!" This black-legged kittiwake and Cory's shearwater got a little close while flying in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Fowl play, perhaps? (Photo: Peter Flood)
Feeling a little crabby? You're in good company! Hermit crabs can be found in many of your national marine sanctuaries, including NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, like this one. These wee crustaceans use empty shells to protect themselves. As they get bigger, they move into larger, more accommodating shells. (Photo: NOAA)
A close-up on the face of a Steller sea lion with its mouth wide open. This photo was taken in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Katy Laveck Foster)
Today, for Memorial Day, we honor the many men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. In addition to protecting important ecosystems and habitats, your National Marine Sanctuary System also protects maritime heritage resources that tell the story of our maritime nation. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, for example, protects the waters around Midway Atoll, which are the resting place for at least 31 sunken aircraft that are considered war graves. The Battle of Midway was one of the most decisive U.S. victories of WWII and is referred to as the turning point of the war in the Pacific. Here, a diver documents the wing section of a F4U Corsair. Find out more about a recent expedition to explore these aircraft and honor the legacy of the brave men who helped to turn the tide in the Pacific. (Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA)
"In my capacity as a caretaker of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, I am always humbled by the knowledge that the first people of these islands and waters, the Chumash, have known for thousands of years about the life-sustaining, culturally-defining and sacred nature of this place. As I go about our work, I strive to learn from and honor these indigenous values and the Chumash people of our community. Through this native connection and wisdom, our sanctuary mission is even more profound." – Mike Murray, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary deputy superintendent for programs (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
How do sea stars get around? With tube feet! In this closeup of a sunflower star in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, you can see how it uses its tube feet to explore the world around it. In addition to locomotion, sea stars use their tube feet to pass food toward their mouth. (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA)
Don't look so surprised – it's time again for the annual Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! We're looking for your best photos of sanctuary seascapes, animals, and visitors. Learn how to enter at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html. (Photo: Steve Miller; entry into the 2017 Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest)
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary was established in 1989 to protect the lush ecosystems on and around Cordell Bank, a rocky feature off the coast of California. Marine mammals and migratory seabirds – like black-footed albatrosses, pictured here – travel here from all over the Pacific Ocean to feed! (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Sea turtles are found in almost all of your national marine sanctuaries. Loggerhead turtles like this one often frequent NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia. Here, they can be spotted resting among the natural reef ledges and basking at the ocean's surface. (Photo: Peter Auster/NOAA/UConn/Mystic Aquarium)
Kelp forests, like those in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and other West Coast sanctuaries, are home to enormous biodiversity. Kelp forests provide food and shelter for many marine animals. Here, you'll find juvenile fish hiding from predators, sea stars hunting sea urchins, sea otters searching for invertebrate snacks, and more. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Explore the tidepools of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and you're likely to see anemones like this starburst anemone! Though anemones look rather like flowers, they're actually animals. Their "petals" are stinging tentacles that they use to gather food like small fish and crabs toward their mouth. (Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
"Working for NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary opened my world to a new appreciation for cultural resources and our nation’s maritime heritage. I love telling people the wonderful stories of the Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, and its brave crew, the Monitor Boys. Our sanctuary also researches the rich maritime history that exists all around Monitor, up and down the North Carolina coast, including World War I and World War II shipwrecks. With each shipwreck, I eagerly dive in to learn its stories and share them with students, teachers, and the public!" – Shannon Ricles, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary education and outreach coordinator (Photo: Steve Sellers/NOAA)
A humpback whale in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Jane Fay Baker)
The National Marine Sanctuary System provides important refuge for many endangered species, from leatherback sea turtles to Hawaiian monk seals like this one. Though Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet, through protection efforts by NOAA and our partners, their numbers have been increasing over the past several years. Here, a rehabilitated monk seal heads home to the ocean in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The transmitter on its back will allow researchers to track its movements and learn more about Hawaiian monk seal populations. If you see a Hawaiian monk seal when you're in Hawai‘i, you can help protect it by giving it plenty of space so it can rest or hunt. You can also help by reporting your sightings to the island's local Marine Mammal Response Coordinator . The more we know about where these seals are, the better we can care for them! (Photo: NOAA)
If I stay very still, you can't see me! Octopuses like this one in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary are masters of disguise. Special pigmented cells called chromatophores allow them to change color and texture in the flash of an eye, helping them hide from predators and prey alike! (Photo: Alicia Reigel/LSU)
Did you know that rabbits live in the ocean? Well, not exactly – but you can find sea hares! California brown sea hares like this one in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are actually large sea slugs. They get their name from the sensory organs on their heads that look rather like rabbit ears. Also like rabbits, they are grazers, though they far prefer algae to anything terrestrial. Have you spotted sea hares while tidepooling or diving in your California sanctuaries? (Photo: Dr. Tony Knight)
Bad hair day? Not quite! This is Dendronotus iris, a kind of nudibranch. Those "hairs" you see are actually branching gills, which can be tipped with white, orange, yellow, or purple. This nudibranch prowls the rocky reefs of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for anemones to chow down on. (Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
Now that's a whale of a breach! This North Atlantic right whale was photographed breaching in the waters near Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, with only about 450 remaining. After years of being hunted for their blubber and baleen, today they are at risk of entanglement and ship strikes. There is some good news: Stellwagen Bank is working closely with partners like NOAA Fisheries to protect these whales and reduce threats. (Photo: Peter Flood)
"As a biology student and someone who is passionate about ocean conservation, I learn more and more of the negative trends in which our environment is heading. Sanctuaries give me hope that not all will be lost. Sanctuary waters are full of healthy marine life and incredibly beautiful ecosystems. Seeing how vibrant our ocean can be inspires me to be a better guest to this planet." – Savanna Mahn, constituent and legislative affairs volunteer intern, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
This weekend we celebrate both World Migratory Bird Day and Mother's Day – and what better way than with Wisdom the Laysan albatross? At about 67 years old, Wisdom is the oldest known wild bird in the world, and is a mother many times over! Here she is with her 2017 chick on Midway Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Every year, Laysan albatrosses and numerous other bird species migrate from their feeding grounds to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to breed and raise their chicks. Protecting these places helps ensure the survival of new generations! (Photo: Naomi Blinick/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
This little cutie is none other than the Laysan duck. These ducks are considered the rarest native waterfowl in the United States: while once they were found throughout the Hawaiian Islands, today they only reside in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. There, they're protected by Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. In recent years, Pacific Islands: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has relocated some Laysan ducks from Laysan Island to Midway Atoll and Kure Atoll, in order to increase their chance of survival! (Photo: Wayne Levin)
Long-tailed jaegers are just one of the many birds to visit Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary! (Photo: Peter Flood)
Whether you're a birdwatching beginner or an avian expert, national marine sanctuaries are a bird enthusiast's paradise! Snowy egrets are just one of the hundreds of species of bird to visit Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Keep a sharp eye on the shallows and you might spot these beautiful birds using their brilliant yellow feet to stir up prey! (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
Seabirds aren't the only birds that rely on national marine sanctuaries. For shorebirds like this black oystercatcher in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, sanctuaries are home. Black oystercatchers patrol the intertidal zone, looking for mussels and other shellfish. They find open mussels, jab that long bill in, and extract the contents for a hearty seafood meal. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Say what? It's bird week?? It's true! This week we'll be bringing you information and stories about the birds of your National Marine Sanctuary System. Sanctuaries play a critical role in protecting seabirds, shorebirds, and more: in these protected areas, birds breed, forage for food, migrate, and raise their young. (Photo: Brian Peck/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
"One day, there was an injured elephant seal on the public beach outside my office. It's a popular beach with people and dog-walkers. There was also a group of three families from the US and France at a family reunion. I asked the kids if they wanted to help me make a driftwood fence around the injured seal to keep dogs and people away. The kids, four to 12 years old, quickly gathered bundles of driftwood and made a stick fence around the seal giving it about 20 feet on all sides. The parents wanted to leave to see the sunset, but the kids would not go until their project was done. They were so proud of their accomplishment, I got a huge group hug and lots of group pictures before they left. In my work, this is what I'm most proud of: connecting kids to the ocean, making them feel important through stewardship activities, and empowering them to take action." – Carolyn Skinder, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary southern region program coordinator (Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)
Excuse me, this space is already octopied! This giant Pacific octopus was spotted hanging out in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. These octopuses are masters of disguise, using special skin cells called chromatophores to change color and blend in with their surroundings. What's your favorite octopus fact (or pun)? Share it with us in the comments! (Photo: Katy Laveck Foster)
In a galaxy far, far away – er, NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary – lurks...the death stars? Happy Star Wars Day, and May the Fourth be with you! (Photo: Tim Henkel/Valdosta State University)
From the wrecks of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to the beaches of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, there's something for everyone in your sanctuary system. (Photo: Jeff Gray/NOAA)
Three cheers for the pom pom crab! Also known as the Hawaiian boxer crab, these crabs are found in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands -- including in NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Its pom-poms are actually small anemones that it carries around for defense. (Photo: NOAA)
Take flight into the week like this great shearwater in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary! (Photo: Peter Flood)
Throughout the spring, orcas come to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where they feed on migrating gray whales. Wildlife photographer Douglas Croft got a treat when he saw the CA140 pod en route to a meal, led by their matriarch Emma and joined by the male Liner. Can you spot all 10 orcas here? (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
"I believe my job and personal life philosophies are intertwined. I am constantly inspired by the people I work with here and abroad. Interacting with them reminds me that I am part of a global community inspiring me to strive to look for ways to support ocean protection in all aspects of my life, from within my home, to my community, and with folks around the globe who share the same mindset." – Gabrielle Johnson, senior international program analyst for the NOAA International MPA Capacity Building Team (IMPACT) Program (Photo: Ian Shive/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, taken in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa)
What is this blue and yellow beauty? A royal sea goddess! This nudibranch was spotted in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. 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. (Photo: Timothy Henkel/Valdosta State University)
Ocean scientist in training! Through the Ocean Guardian School Program , students and teachers commit to protect local watersheds, the ocean, and national marine sanctuaries. By proposing and implementing school- or community-based conservation projects, students learn valuable citizen science skills and also get hands-on experience leading their community toward environmental solutions. Here, a student from Adams Elementary School in Santa Barbara, California shows off a sand crab she found during a beach monitoring excursion. (Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA)
How would you caption this photo of a western gull eating a sea star in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary? Add your caption in the comments -- we can't wait to see what you come up with! (Photo: Enrique Patino/NOAA)
Citizen science in action: here, students participating in the LiMPETS Monitoring program survey a tidepool in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Through LiMPETS -- Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students -- students from sixth grade to college monitor the biology of coastal ecosystems in California. By monitoring, students and community groups become the eyes and ears for our shores, and their data often inform the management of marine protected areas! (Photo: Jessie Altstatt/NOAA)
Tidepools like this one in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary are excellent place to teach young ones about the ocean. In tidepools, you'll find sea anemones, sea urchins, hermit crabs, and more living together. Check out our guidelines on good ocean etiquette , then plan your next trip to a sanctuary tidepool near you! (Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
Dive in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and you're likely to see the lovely long-spined sea urchin! Look closely and you'll see a small bulb in the center of the urchin. While an urchin's mouth is on its underside, waste gets expelled through this specialized organ on top! On some species, it can be quite colorful. (Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA)
Our planet is a blue planet, and we are all connected by our amazing ocean. Our ocean is essential for life on earth: it regulates our climate, provides our oxygen, and feeds us. Beneath its waves are marvelous ecosystems that sustain an incredible array of life. It's up to us to protect our ocean for future generations. (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
If you live inland, it may seem like you're not very connected to the ocean – but through rivers and watersheds, you are! Waterways like these also connect fish habitats. Salmon like these coho salmon spend much of their lives at sea in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, then make their way up rivers in Olympic National Park to spawn. By protecting both ocean and river ecosystems, we help ensure species like these salmon can thrive! (Photo: Adam Baus)
Gray angelfish in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Daryl Duda)
Cuddle pile! These are Hawaiian monk seals, or ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua in Hawaiian. Though they are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, there is some good news -- populations have increased by three percent annually for the past three years thanks to work by NOAA and our partners. Today, about 1,100 live in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, while an additional 300 reside in the Main Hawaiian Islands. If you see a Hawaiian monk seal on the beach or in the ocean, please let us know so we can better understand and track this endangered species! Get more info on how to report sightings . (Photo: NOAA)
Photographing history: divers from Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and East Carolina University photograph the German U-boat U-352 . This U-boat sank on May 9, 1942 and was the first U-boat sunk by the U.S. Coast Guard off the U.S. East Coast during World War II. Today, U-352 is one of the most frequently-dived U-boats in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. It rests in 115 feet of water and is covered in coralline algae, sea anemones, and corals. Red barbier baitfish and amberjack are so common that it can be difficult to take a clear photograph of the wreck! (Photo: NOAA)
Happy Bat Appreciation Day! There are lots of bats beneath the waves, like BAThypterois viridensis, a type of tripod fish. Tripod fishes rest on the seafloor on the tips of elongated rays of their pelvic and lower caudal fins. They use the elongated rays of their pectoral fins as sensory “antennae” that project out and forward as the fish sits facing into the current. (Photo courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2017)
Here, a volunteer cleans staghorn coral fragments at the Coral Restoration Foundation's coral nursery in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Daryl Duda)
"The shared dedication to special Great Lakes and ocean places in the National Marine Sanctuary System creates a sense of camaraderie and community. Here in the Great Lakes, there are students, educators, researchers, public officials, citizen scientists, volunteers, tourists and visitors, divers, and more that are all drawn together by fascination with the area's rich maritime history." – John Bright, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary research coordinator (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Happy National Dolphin Day! Common dolphins like these are often spotted in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Common dolphins are eager bow-riders, and sometimes can be spotted in groups of hundreds or thousands! In the sanctuary, they prey on squid and other small schooling fish. (Photo: Peter Flood)
Discovery in the deep! This beautiful deep-sea sponge is actually a new species. In 2017, scientists on board the E/V Nautilus used a remotely operated vehicle to explore never-before-visited areas of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Among the creatures they saw were two new species of sponge! The sponge in the foreground here is one of them, and is a kind of Farrea sponge. (Photo: NOAA/OET)
The cuteness here is over-whale-ming! Each winter, thousands of humpback whales visit the warm waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to mate, give birth, and care for their newborns. Mothers and calves like this pair can often be seen swimming or resting at the surface. While adult humpback whales can hold their breath for 10 to 15 minutes, calves must rise to the surface every three to five minutes to breathe. (Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under MMHSRP permit #20311)
You don't have to be a diver to explore the shipwrecks of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Many of the historic wrecks in this Great Lakes sanctuary are shallow enough to explore with a snorkel or a kayak. This is the wreck of the wooden schooner Portland
Heroes in training: last month, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff and partners were trained to safely disentangle whales. One skill they practiced was how to attach a telemetry buoy to gear entangling a whale, which allows rescuers to track the whale's movements. Knowing where the whale is helps buy more time for experts to attempt to set it free. Disentangling whales is extremely dangerous work and requires expertise and training. Responders never get into the water with a whale, and nor should you! If you see an entangled whale, please alert your local marine mammal stranding network: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/report . (Photo: Nicole Capps/NOAA)
Holy mola! Don't be fooled, this isn't a baby whale – it's a mola mola! Also known as ocean sunfish, mola mola are the largest bony fish in the ocean. Despite their huge size (they can weigh more than 2,000 pounds!) these fish chow down on tiny prey like jellyfish. This mola mola was spotted in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Marybeth Head/NOAA)
"I am inspired by the communities of people that led the way to preserve the incredible treasures that the National Marine Sanctuary System protects. Everyday people like you and me stepped up to participate in the federal processes to help stewards take care of these special ocean and Great Lakes places. That level of collaboration inspires me. Now, we need to find ways to connect all people to the ocean so they form their own personal love and care for it. Its easy for me, growing up and living so close to a shoreline my entire life, but I often think about those that live out of reach, or the means to get there are not possible, or those that are states away. How can we inspire an ethic to conserve our ocean to those that can't experience its awe itself?" – Jennifer Stock, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary education & outreach coordinator
Hold tight, little sea star! Look closely and you can see this sea star's tube feet, which it uses to cling to this tidepool in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. A sea star's tube feet use hydraulic pressure to move, and then the tube foot likely uses a glue-like substance to stick to the rock. Sea stars aren't the only ocean animals with tube feet – their cousins sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers also have them. (Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
Apr. 6, 2018 : Look closely and you'll see this octopus in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is mid-snack on some shellfish! But how do octopuses eat, anyway? An octopus's mouth is on its underside, and contains a hard beak. The beak is made of chitin, a material similar to what's in your fingernails, and helps the octopus chow down on tough food! (Photo: P. Auster/NOAA/University of Connecticut/Mystic Aquarium)
Apr. 5, 2018 : Stretch it out! On the Olympic Peninsula, land and sea are closely connected. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary works closely with Olympic National Park to protect the animals that depend on these watersheds. Here, a bobcat hunts for salmon. Salmon that swim up rivers to spawn in the park live much of their lives in sanctuary waters offshore: seven species of Pacific salmon can be found along the outer coast of Washington. (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
Apr. 4, 2018 : Celebrate Whale Wednesday with this amazing view of a North Atlantic right whale breaching! With only about 450 individuals remaining, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. Each year, many of them travel to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Massachusetts to feed. The sanctuary has been collaborating with partners to find innovative ways to protect these whales from entanglement and ship strikes. (Photo: Peter Flood)
Apr. 3, 2018 : Is this Cockerell's dorid wearing orange in decoration? Perhaps, but these q-tip-like appendages serve another function. They're called cerata, and function sort of like external gills, aiding the dorid in respiration! (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA, taken in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary)
Apr. 2, 2018 : Blast from the past: Crinoids like this one are living fossils. They've been in our ocean for almost 500 million years! Don't let their plant-like appearance fool you: crinoids are invertebrates, and are relatives of sea stars and sea urchins. This one was photographed in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: NURC/NOAA)
Apr. 1, 2018 : "Every day I go to work knowing that I am making a difference. I am proud of what I do. Plus, I try very hard to think about my actions and how they are protecting the environment every day. I rethink my choices in the grocery store, reduce my plastic use, bike my kids to school, reclaim my household water to use for my gardens, ALWAYS say no thank you to plastic straws, and lastly, I'm involved in a number of steering committees and advisory panels (outside of work) for the community and the school districts to ensure that the kids entering into the world know the impacts on the environment and how to mitigate them." – Seaberry Nachbar, Ocean Guardian School Program director. (Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA)
Mar. 31, 2018 : A vision in turquoise! Like corals, giant clams house colorful photosynthetic algae in their tissues, which is part of the reason they can grow so large. It's also why they prefer shallow, clear waters with plenty of sunlight -- making the reefs of Rose Atoll in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa the perfect habitat. (Photo: Jim Maragos/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Mar. 30, 2018 : Ocean magic eye puzzle: look carefully and you'll see an octopus! Octopuses, as well as many of their squid and cuttlefish cousins, are masters of camouflage. Special pigmented cells in their skin called chromatophores enable them to change color rapidly. Part of the octopus's neuromuscular system, these cells receive signals from the environment, helping the octopus hide from predators and prey! Despite its excellent disguise, this octopus was spotted in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Mar. 29, 2018 : Who captures fish raw with two sets of jaws? That's a moray! Look closely - but not too closely - and you can see how the purplemouth moray eel gets its name. This is one of several species of moray eel that can be found in the reefs of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA)
Mar. 28, 2018 : You otter believe this sea otter is having an otterly delicious snack! Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Jessica 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. Learn more about her research . (Photo: Jessica Hale)
Mar. 27, 2018 : Talk about a big bite! Here, a white-spotted rose anemone clings to and attempts to ingest a moon jelly in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Although the jelly is twice the size of the anemone, most of the jelly is water, so it's not an impossibly large meal. While moon jellies are usually open ocean species, sometimes oceanographic conditions bring them closer to shore – and into the mouths of creatures like this anemone. (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA)
Mar. 26, 2018 : Someone's got a case of the Mondays! Northern elephant seals like these haul out each year along the California coast, including in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. On shore, they rest, mate, and raise their young. Though elephant seals look goofy, it's always important to remember that these are wild animals and give them plenty of space! Learn how to safely watch wildlife along the coast. (Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA)
Mar. 25, 2018 : "Being a dive master has opened up so many incredible doors for me. One of the most rewarding parts of getting to lead people around is when they notice garbage or fishing line on the reef and help to remove it. I think the reason the sanctuaries are so successful is that it allows people to physically see what is being protected by the law. Because of this firsthand experience anyone can have, they learn to appreciate the marine life and want to help protect it too! " - Natalie Nites, NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Team OCEAN volunteer. (Photo: Daryl Duda)
Mar. 24, 2018 : Lingcod in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
Mar. 23, 2018 : There's a new celebrity baby in town! At 67 years old, Wisdom the Laysan albatross is famous as the oldest known wild bird on record. This season, Wisdom has hatched another healthy chick, one of more than 30 healthy chicks that she has successfully hatched in her lifetime. Wisdom and thousands of other albatross return to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands every year to breed. The monument provides a safe and peaceful area for adults to raise their young. (Photo: Bob Peyton/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Mar. 22, 2018 : Happy World Water Day! More than 95 percent of the water on our beautiful blue planet is held by the ocean. The ocean is vital in regulating our climate and is home to a vast numbers of species. A healthy ocean also drives economies and supports cultural traditions around the world. The National Marine Sanctuary System works to keep key marine habitats vibrant for the human and natural communities that depend on them. (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA, taken in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary)
Mar. 21, 2018 : Today is the International Day of Forests! Did you know that there are forests beneath the waves, too? Kelp forests like those found in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary provide shelter and food for a wide array of ocean life -- like sea otters! Learn more about kelp forests in your national marine sanctuaries. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Mar. 20, 2018 : It's Dolphin Awareness Month! Many national marine sanctuaries support large populations of different species of dolphins. These sleek northern right whale dolphins were observed in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Highly streamlined bodies help these dolphins move rapidly through the water. Like many other dolphin species, northern right whale dolphins are gregarious, and sometimes are found in groups of several hundred to more than a thousand! (Photo: NOAA)
Mar. 19, 2018 : The pink reef fringing this atoll might give you a hint of its name – Rose Atoll! Rose Atoll Marine National Monument and National Wildlife Refuge lies at the heart of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Here, you'll find 113 species of coral, large populations of giant clams, nesting seabirds and sea turtles, and more. (Photo: Ian Shive/USFWS)
Mar. 18, 2018 : With this smile, this juvenile elephant seal is definitely a seal of approval! Each winter, northern elephant seals haul out on the shores of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to breed and raise their young. Elephant seals can be tons of fun to watch, but it's important to give them plenty of space so juveniles like this one can grow up healthy and strong! A zoom lens is the key to capturing awesome photos. (Photo: Douglas Croft Images)
Mar. 17, 2018 : Green sea turtles are always ready for St. Patrick's Day! Adult green turtles are unique among sea turtles in that they eat only plants; they primarily feed on on seagrasses and algae. This diet is thought to give them greenish-colored fat, from which they take their name. This one was observed in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. (Photo: James Watt/NOAA)
Mar. 16, 2018 : 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 Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. The wreck is largely intact and is now a popular dive site. Learn about Caribsea 's history and significance
Mar. 15, 2018 : Ides of March? More like tides of March! Et tu, Anemone? Tidepools like the ones along Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary are the perfect places to explore and learn about ocean creatures like sea stars, mollusks, and yes – sea anemones. For your safety, though, don't turn your back on the ocean while exploring and keep an eye on the rising tide! (Photo: NOAA)
Mar. 14, 2018 : It's Pi Day, and these leather stars are putting the rad in radial symmetry. Sea stars like these are symmetrical in any direction around their center point -- just like a pie (though not as tasty!). Other marine animals that exhibit radial symmetry are sand dollars, sea urchins, sea anemones, and jellies. These leather stars were observed in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA)
Mar. 13, 2018 : March is Youth Art Month, and what better way to connect with your sanctuaries than through art? Each year, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the Massachusetts Marine Educators have jointly sponsored a student marine art contest. Check out this gorgeous lobster by Chemsford High School student Elizabeth Salomaa! Learn more about the contest . (Image: Elizabeth Salomaa)
Mar. 12, 2018 : Single file, please! Northern right whale dolphins have especially streamlined bodies, which helps them swim quickly when fleeing predators or heading toward prey. These gregarious dolphins are sometimes found in groups of several hundred to more than a thousand! These were spotted in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Gary Friedrichsen)
Mar. 11, 2018 : "I make sure that when I am boating that nothing goes into the water, I try to recycle everything I can, and I don't eat seafood unless it is invasive lionfish. I also participate in as many coastal cleanups to help to remove all of the garbage along our shorelines and I try to encourage others to do the same. We have a long ways to go in ocean conservation, but national marine sanctuaries, along with national parks, monuments, and wildlife refuges, afford us the best opportunity to help leverage limited resources to address coastal and marine conservation." – Mark Chiappone, research associate at Nova Southeastern University and assistant professor at Miami Dade College (Photo: Scrawled filefish in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Daryl Duda)
Mar. 10, 2018 : They're krilly small and unassuming, but krill form the backbone of many ocean ecosystems! These tiny crustaceans consume phytoplankton, and in turn are food for whales, fish, and other marine animals. During their peak feeding times, blue whales can eat up to 8,000 pounds of krill each day! (Photo: Maps For Good, taken in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary)
Mar. 9, 2018 : Shipwrecks serve as refuge for marine life, so when exploring wrecks divers often encounter wildlife. This diver from NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was investigating the wreck of the U-boat U-352 when he spotted a ray hiding in the sand. (Photo: Steve Sellers/NOAA)
Mar. 8, 2018 : Today is International Women's Day! We're celebrating the women of our National Marine Sanctuary System and the amazing contributions they make to ocean conservation! This is Jessica Hale, a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar who studies sea otters in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Thanks to her research, the sanctuary is learning more about sea otters' role in this Pacific Northwest area. Learn more about Hale's work . (Photo: Kate Thompson/NOAA)
Mar. 7, 2018 : Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight! The rocky reef of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary supports a tremendous diversity of marine invertebrates. Explore the ledges of this sanctuary and you might spot a small spine sea star like this one and get to make a wish! (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Mar. 6, 2018 : Jail break! These convict tangs in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument use their stripes like zebras do, to confuse predators. The disruptive patterns make it difficult for attacking predators to pick out a single fish. Convict tangs are common in the Pacific waters around the Hawaiian Islands, where they go by the name "manini." (Photo: John Burns/NOAA)
Mar. 5, 2018 : This month we're showing some love for the autotrophs in our lives -- it's Seagrass Awareness Month! Seagrasses can form dense underwater meadows, and produce oxygen and sustain complex food chains. In NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, they're integral to ecosystem health. They are a nursery for fish, a food source for creatures like manatees, and habitat for creatures like this scorpionfish. (Photo: NOAA)
Mar. 4, 2018 : "I connect to the ocean through a literal connection: diving, walking the beach, exploring the coastline. From not using straws and consuming sustainable seafood, to just picking up the trash and instilling these ideals in my children and others, I protect the ocean with responsible decisions." – Chad King, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary research specialist (Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
Mar. 3, 2018 : March is Dolphin Awareness Month, and here at Sanctuaries, we love our dolphins! Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Alexandra Avila photographed these Hawaiian spinner dolphins in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Spinner dolphins are incredibly gregarious, sometimes gathering in groups of several hundred or more! These dolphins feed at night and return to coastal waters to rest and socialize. Because they rest during the day, it's important to give them lots of space -- would you like someone trying to hang out with you when you're trying to get some shut-eye? (Photo: Alexandra Avila)
Mar. 2, 2018 : Where do invasive species come from? In some cases, nonnative species can hitch a ride to new places on ships or via marine debris, like this derelict vessel near Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Though species can also travel from one place to another on organic matter, plastic and other manmade materials don't degrade as quickly and are more likely to cross large distances. You can help reduce the spread of invasive species by reducing marine debris: always dispose of your waste properly and join beach cleanups in your area whenever you can! (Photo: NOAA)
Mar. 1, 2018 : Fishing for a cause: Each year, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary holds the "Lionfish Invitational," a lionfish research and removal effort in the sanctuary. In recent decades, Indo-Pacific lionfish have invaded the reefs of the Flower Garden Banks and other sanctuaries, threatening fish populations and reef biodiversity. In an effort to limit the effects of the lionfish, divers and researchers spend several days removing them from the reef. Scientists also conduct surveys to determine what species, quantities, and sizes of fish are present. Here, participant Rachel Bowman holds up a lionfish after a dive. (Photo: Andy Lowe)
Feb. 28, 2018 : Watersipora Wednesday! Here, a shrimp crawls over the invasive Watersipora subtorquata in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Watersipora is an invasive genus of bryozoan -- or aquatic filter-feeding invertebrate -- that has taken up residence in and around the sanctuary. Though there's still much to learn about how these organisms grow and thrive, Watersipora are thought to have been introduced to the California coast by hitching a ride on ships and boats traveling along the coastline. Once settled in a new environment, Watersipora can have damaging effects on native invertebrate species, smothering them and outcompeting them for space. But researchers at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary have been working hard to understand how these organisms grow and thrive, and what ecological consequences we can anticipate from their spread. (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA)
Feb. 27, 2018 : With voracious appetites and no natural predators in the Atlantic, invasive lionfish are seriously threatening coral reef biodiversity and health in several national marine sanctuaries. There is good news, though: research led by scientists from REEF Reef Environmental Education Foundation shows that volunteers can help defend local marine habitats! The data show that lionfish derbies in areas including Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary can reduce lionfish numbers by 52 percent across an area of nearly 75 square miles. (Photo: Brenda Altmeier/NOAA)
Feb. 26, 2018 : 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 Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for invasive species. These surveys are a part of a series by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center to detect and characterize the spread of invasive species. Learn more about invasive species in sanctuaries . (Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
Feb. 25, 2018 : "Most people think of foreign lands when they think of beautiful ocean habitats, and I get the opportunity to amaze them with what we have in our own backyard. My own passion for the places I help protect often gets other people excited about them, as well." – Kelly Drinnen, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary education & outreach specialist (Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA)
Feb. 24, 2018 : What do you think, can we fit one murre common murre on this island? More than a quarter of a million seabirds flock to Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to breed each year. Many of these birds crowd onto the rocky outcroppings of the Farallon Islands, like these common murres nesting on Southeast Farallon Island. Learn about the sanctuary's efforts to protect these birds . (Photo: Point Blue Conservation Science)
Feb. 23, 2018 : Giddy up! This mollusk is a horse conch, found in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Horse conchs are the largest sea snail found in U.S. waters -- they can grow up to two feet in length! These enormous sea snails are predators, chowing down on other snails and mollusks. (Photo: NOAA)
Feb. 22, 2018 : Corals come in all shapes and sizes! Table corals like this Acropora hyacinthus in Fagatale Bay of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa form shelf-like structures that shelter many other animals. Coral reefs are key habitats for thousands of species, and their structural diversity creates rich, varied homes for everything from eels to octopuses. (Photo: Wendy Cover/NOAA)
Feb. 21, 2018 : Fierce competition: every winter, male elephant seals haul out on the shores of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and compete for females. These fights can be intense and bloody, and decide which males will get to mate. If you're visiting the sanctuary, please make sure to give elephant seals lots of space! It can be dangerous to get too close to fighting seals, and nursing pups and moms need plenty of rest.
(Photo: Phil Adams)
Feb. 20, 2018 : It's peak humpback whale season at NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Each year, humpback whales flock to this sanctuary from Alaska to mate and calve. Why do they travel so far to give birth? These waters are highly suitable for raising a youngster: warm, clear, and free of predators! (Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240)
Feb. 19, 2018 : Take a trip beneath the waves and back in time at the wreck of the freighter Manuela Manuela was traveling from Puerto Rico to New York with a convoy of 11 ships when they were attacked by the German U-boat U-404 . Today, Manuela lies off the coast of North Carolina in 160 feet of water. Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA)
Feb. 18, 2018 : "It is such an honor to be charged with the care of America's ocean and Great Lakes playgrounds and be a steward for the generations that follow. The mission of the sanctuary system is unique and the people called to this work are driven and passionate individuals that come together to form a symphony of excellence. It is a pleasure to work for this system and with these people." – Matt Stout, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries communications director (Photo: Mandy Miller, taken in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary)
Feb. 17, 2018 : 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 shares travel to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico to find this favorite food. (Photo: Kevin Lino/NOAA)
Feb. 16, 2018 : "ROAR!! Just kidding, I'm a whale." Although humpback whales are large, they only feed on krill and small fish. Photographer Douglas Croft snapped this photo of a humpback whale taking a big gulp of anchovies! Humpback whales and other whales flock to the nutrient-rich waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to feed. By winter, most humpback whales leave the sanctuary for warmer waters in Mexico, but some juveniles and non-breeding adults stick around a little longer to take advantage of the over-whale-mingly large feast. (Photo: Douglas Croft)
Feb. 15, 2018 : We're continuing to leap through Whale Week with these Pacific white-sided dolphins! For fifteen years, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, and Point Blue Conservation Science have been collaborating to understand how whales, dolphins, and other marine creatures use sanctuary habitats. Data from the ACCESS Partnership have been used to help ensure the safety of these wonderful animals. For example, sanctuary managers use the data to reduce the overlap of whales and ships transiting to and from the ports of San Francisco Bay. (Photo: NOAA/Point Blue/ACCESS)
Feb. 14, 2018 : One of the biggest risks to humpback whales and other whales is entanglement by fishing gear and other debris. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary leads the Hawaiian Islands Disentanglement Network, a community-based network that works to locate entangled whales and free them. In March 2017, the team removed more than 500 feet of electrical cable from this whale! You can help protect whales like this one by disposing of waste properly and participating in beach cleanups near you. Less trash in the ocean means less risks to these magnificent whales! (Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under MMHSRP Permit #18786)
Feb. 13, 2018 : The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most critically endangered populations of large whales in the world -- there are likely only about 450 left in the wild. Each year, right whales travel to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to feed, and give birth to young in the warm waters near Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. To protect these whales, we're working closely with NOAA Fisheries 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 1982 and has fathered at least 3 calves. 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)
Feb. 12, 2018 : Whale what do you know? It's Whale Week! All week long, we'll be celebrating these gentle giants that are found throughout our national marine sanctuaries. This magnificent breaching humpback whale is Salt, the "grand dame" of 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: Peter Flood)
Feb. 11, 2018 : "I got interested in the ocean when I was a pre-teen. On a trip to St. Maarten I was awed by a school of barracuda gracefully swimming past me as I was snorkeling and exploring the bay bottom. I've never forgotten that feeling and have always been drawn to the ocean and all of its beauty. Now, I act as a steward and model for protecting the environment. I think of more than myself as I walk through this glorious life." - Monique Gordon, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council member for K-12 education What inspires you about the ocean? (Photo: Juvenile blue angelfish in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Greg McFall/NOAA)
Feb. 10, 2018 : "Nope, you can't see me. I'm invisible!" This well-camouflaged frogfish was spotted lurking on the reef at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Frogfish are "lie and wait" predators: they stay very still until prey comes by, then quickly snatch their meal. (Photo: Steve Miller)
Feb. 9, 2018 : This may look like a beautiful flower blooming beneath the waves, but it's actually an animal! This stalked crinoid was spotted in the deep waters of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. The feathery "petals" you see are arms, which this invertebrate uses to grasp small particles of food out of the current. Crinoids can also use these arms to crawl along the seafloor if they need to relocate! (Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 American Samoa)
Feb. 8, 2018 : It's easy to spot the humpback whales in this photo, but can you see the sea lions, too? The waters within Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are rich with nutrients and food, providing feasting opportunities for all sorts of creatures! (Photo: Patrick Smith)
Feb. 7, 2018 : Watch out, little purple sea urchins -- you're one of the leather star's favorite foods! This leather star may be scoping out a sea urchin snack in the kelp forest of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Left unchecked, sea urchins will chow down on huge amounts of kelp, so by eating them, leather stars and other sea stars help keep kelp forest ecosystems healthy and balanced. (Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
Feb. 6, 2018 : Can you spot the octopus? 🐙 Look closely and you might spot a little cephalopod among the many invertebrates of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary! Cordell Bank is a deep-water feature located along the cold California Current. Each year, the current brings in nutrient-rich water, which supports a rich biological community of fishes, invertebrates, and more. What else can you see in this photo? (Photo: Clinton Bauder/BAUE)
Feb. 5, 2018 : Keep a sharp eye out for whales! Each year, volunteers with Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary participate in the Sanctuary Ocean Count to keep track of visiting humpback whales. Sanctuary Ocean Count events are held on the islands of Hawai‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i on the last Saturday of January, February, and March. Learn more about the Count and how you can get involved . (Photo: Cindy Among-Serrao/NOAA)
Feb. 4, 2018 : "I'm inspired to work with marine protected area programs in the United States and internationally because of the committed, creative people who are working to protect the ocean's most important places. It makes me feel great when I see our partners succeeding at creating a new marine protected area, or putting new management tools in place, and I think, 'we helped make that happen.' Conservation has a key role to play, not only in protecting our planet and the life-support systems it provides, but also in promoting global understanding and peace. There's nothing like working together on a common problem to help us see our common ground." - Lauren Wentzel, director of National Marine Protected Areas Center (Photo: John Burns/NOAA, taken in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument)
Feb. 3, 2018 : Out in the Gulf of Mexico near Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, large mats of sargassum seaweed serve as a life raft for small marine creatures. Fish, young sea turtles, and more use sargassum mats as shelter and an important food source. Here, sanctuary research specialist Marissa Nuttall documents life beneath the seaweed. (Photo: Jesse Cancelmo)
Feb. 2, 2018 : Today is World Wetlands Day! The wetlands of the islands within NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary provide important habitat for shorebirds, Key deer, and other animals. This white ibis was spotted foraging for small crustaceans. What's your favorite wetland creature? (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
Feb 1, 2018 : Dangerous beauty: Ice, collision, and storms have claimed more than 100 ships throughout Lake Huron's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In this icy shot of the sanctuary shoreline, it's easy to imagine how treacherous these conditions could be! (Photo: Kate Thompson/NOAA)
Jan. 31, 2018 : Science in action: Here, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Samara Haver deploys a noise listening station in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. For her Ph.D. work, Haver is listening in on the soundscapes of several national marine sanctuaries using the NOAA Ocean Noise Reference Station Network. With her data, she'll be able to better understand how humans and animals contribute to ocean soundscapes. Working in the Channel Islands, Haver and sanctuary researchers deployed a hydrophone off the R/V Shearwater earlier this month. The hydrophones are suspended underwater between a foam float and an anchor on the ocean floor. By floating above the ocean floor, the hydrophone can pick up a broad variety of sounds. (Photo: Lindsey Peavey/NOAA)
Jan. 30, 2018 : Happy anniversary to Monitor National Marine Sanctuary ! Today, our nation's first national marine sanctuary celebrates its 43rd birthday. The sanctuary protects the wreck of the USS Monitor , a Civil War-era ironclad that changed the course of naval history forever. (Photo: NOAA)
Jan. 29, 2018 : Time for a nap? These northern elephant seal pups are taking a well-earned snooze. Each year from December through February, elephant seals haul out on beaches along Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Here, they rest, mate, and pup. Adult elephant seals don't eat while hauled out during this time, though, so they need to conserve their energy! If you see elephant seals on the beach, please stay back at least 50 feet to help them stay healthy. (Photo: Phil Adams)
Jan. 28, 2018 : "I am inspired by the people who I work alongside. The research staff, educators, managers, and crew of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary work tirelessly to conserve, protect, educate, and understand our marine ecosystems. In my personal life, I reduce, reuse, and recycle as often as I can. When I take my dog for beach walks here in Galveston, I make an effort to pick up trash or debris lying on the beaches. Galveston is a popular tourist destination, and if visitors can see the clean up efforts, they may be more inclined to clean up after themselves." – Dustin Picard, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary marine operations coordinator (Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA)
Jan. 27, 2018 : A leap into freedom! After being disentangled from fishing gear, this humpback whale breached several times near responders in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The disentanglement took place off Maui on January 12, where responders from the sanctuary and partners removed more than 285 feet of fishing line from the whale's mouth. If you see an entangled whale, please NEVER try to disentangle it yourself -- that can be dangerous for both you and the whale. Instead, maintain your distance and call the NOAA 24-hour Hotline at 888-256-9840 . (Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under MMHSRP permit #18786-02)
Jan. 26, 2018 : Orange you glad to see this nudibranch? This fuzzy looking invertebrate is none other than an orange-peel nudibranch, also known as the yellow horned dorid. Spotted in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, this petite nudibranch can be found throughout much of the West Coast. (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA)
Jan. 25, 2018 : In Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, history is waiting for you right beneath the surface. This Great Lakes sanctuary protects some of the best-preserved shipwrecks in the world. And even better, you can explore many of the wrecks while diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and more . So what are you waiting for? (Photo: NOAA)
Jan. 24, 2018 : Ulua you looking at? Ulua is the Hawaiian name for the giant trevally, one of the top predators of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Ulua are now relatively rare in the main Hawaiian Islands due to human impacts like fishing, but they are often seen in the monument. Ulua are quite large: they can grow to weigh more than 100 pounds! (Photo: John Burns/NOAA)
Jan. 23, 2018 : Fagatele Bay in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is a coral-lover's dream. This small bay is only about a quarter-square-mile in area, but is home to nearly 170 species of coral! (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Jan 19, 2018 : Open wide! Humpback whales like this one in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary are filter-feeders, chowing down on small schooling fish and krill. Plates of baleen – the hairlike material you can see on the roof of this humpback whale's mouth – help them strain out tiny prey from huge gulps of seawater. A humpback whale can have between 300 and 400 baleen plates on each side of its mouth! (Photo: Carolyn O'Connor)
Jan. 18, 2018 : This "arm" reaching for you belongs to none other than a red gorgonian, Lophogorgia chilensis . Also known as sea fans and sea whips, gorgonians are closely related to coral. Like corals, gorgonians are colonies of individual organisms. Those white, flower-like appendages are actually polyps, reaching out to grab plankton and other prey. This beautiful gorgonian was photographed in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Evan Barba)
Jan. 17, 2018 : What??? It's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's anniversary?? This spotted moray eel may be shocked, but it's true -- the sanctuary is 26 years old today! This vibrant sanctuary is located in the Gulf of Mexico and protects some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world. Learn more at flowergarden.noaa.gov. (Photo: Steve Miller)
Jan. 16, 2018 : Happy 37th anniversary to Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary and Greater Farallones 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 whales, sharks, seabirds, and more. 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 invertebrates like this little crab. Happy anniversary to these two sanctuaries, and many thanks to their staff and volunteers for protecting our ocean's amazing places! (Top photo: Patrick Sysiong; bottom photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Jan. 15, 2018 : What on Earth is this mysterious blob? A lobate comb jelly, of course! Comb jellies, or ctenophores, move around by beating comb-like rows of cilia. This one was spotted in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Chad King/NOAA)
Jan. 14, 2018 : Ever wish you could hop into a time machine? Diving in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, you can get pretty close by exploring some of the best-preserved shipwrecks in the world. This is the wreck of D.M. Wilson , a wooden bulk freighter that sank in 1894 after springing a leak. Much of Wilson's hull remains intact today! (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Jan. 13, 2018 : It's a honu world! In Hawaiian, green sea turtles are known as honu. These turtles can frequently be spotted in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, where they chow down on algae and seagrasses. (Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA)
Jan. 12, 2018 : Does this pink look a little tropical to you? Don't be fooled! This pink hydrocoral was actually photographed in the cold, deep waters of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Northern California. The rocky habitat of Cordell Bank rises from the seafloor of the continental shelf, and hosts all sorts of technicolor creatures! (Photo: NOAA)
Jan. 11, 2018 : Need a moment of relaxation? Take a deep breath and imagine the sound of waves splashing into shore on this rocky Pacific Northwest beach. Sunsets at Rialto Beach in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Olympic National Park are spectacular. What's your favorite sanctuary to catch the sunset from? (Photo: Adam Baus)
Jan. 10, 2018 : Watch out – this Venus flytrap anemone stings! Like the plant from which they get their name, Venus flytrap anemones trap unwitting prey. The anemone's tentacles contain stinging cells that inject venom and can close to keep prey from escaping. This beautiful anemone was spotted in the deep waters of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa by researchers aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The anemone itself is perched on top of a dead Iridogorgia coral, perhaps to better access the current and passing prey. (Photo: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 American Samoa)
Jan 9, 2018 : These two were manta be together! These manta rays were spotted at Pearl and Hermes Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Known as hāhālua in Hawaiian, manta rays can weigh up to 3,000 pounds and have wingspans of 20 feet across. Despite their size, they have tiny prey: these enormous fish feed on plankton. (Photo: Andrew Gray/NOAA)
Jan. 8, 2018 : Close encounters of the shark kind! Last year, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary partnered with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to assess shipwreck sites off the coast of North Carolina. Here, East Carolina University diving safety officer Jason Nunn encounters a sand tiger shark amidst the wreck of Raritan. Sand tiger sharks are often found at shipwreck sites in these areas. Though their scraggly teeth give them a fearsome appearance, they're actually quite docile! (Photo: John McCord/CSI)
Jan. 7, 2018 : "The most inspiring feature of the National Marine Sanctuary System is its ability to capture people from a young age. In 13 years of teaching marine science I've seen it happen right in front of my eyes. Year after year, young adults who visited NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary through the MarineLab program either apply for jobs with us or come to tell me about how being in this environment has inspired them to pursue a career to further understand and protect it. My children may not grow up to pursue a career in marine science (or they might), but I hope that no matter their career choice, they have a strong enough knowledge of our ocean to be able to make good choices for its future. I hope this for everyone." – Jessica Dockery, director of education at MarineLab Environmental Education Center/Marine Resources Development Foundation (Photo: Daryl Duda)
Jan. 6, 2018 : This elephant seal was spotted hanging out on the shores of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Each year, elephant seals haul out on these beaches to molt, give birth, and mate. These elephant seals need their rest, and approaching them can be dangerous – always give them plenty of space! If you're looking to get a seal photo like this one, a zoom lens is key. (Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA)
Jan. 5, 2018 : New year, new life – Wisdom , the oldest known bird in the world, has laid another egg! A Laysan albatross, Wisdom is approximately 67 years old. Each year, she flies to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to meet up with her mate, Akeakamai. Since 2006, Wisdom has successfully raised and fledged at least nine chicks. Here, Akeakamai tends to their egg while Wisdom forages offshore for food. (Photo: Jodi Spross/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
USFWS Pacific Region
Jan. 4, 2018 : A Christmas miracle! On December 25th, these intrepid responders from Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary freed an entangled whale off Maui. The whale had been trailing some 400 feet of heavy gauge line from its mouth, but working with partners, sanctuary responders were able to remove and recover all the gear. Many thanks to these ocean heroes!
If you spot an entangled whale, please don't try to disentangle it yourself – this can be dangerous for both you and the whale. Instead, call your local marine mammal stranding coordinator hotline . (Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under NOAA MMHSRP permit #18785-02)
Jan. 3, 2018 : You won't just find snails in your garden – they also live beneath the waves! This beautiful tulip snail was spotted by researchers in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Tim Henkel/Valdosta State University)
Jan. 2, 2018 : Your national marine sanctuaries offer stunning scenery – like this rainbow in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Which sanctuary will you visit next? (Photo: Apulu Veronika Molio'o Mata'utia Mortenson/NOAA)
Jan. 1, 2018 : Leap into the new year with this Pacific white-sided dolphin in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! What will you do in 2018 to help protect the ocean and Great Lakes? Let us know in the comments! (Photo: Douglas Croft)
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)
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