Looking for fun and adventure this summer? Join us August 2-4 for Get Into Your Sanctuary days!
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) 💙.
How are you celebrating Earth Day?
(Photo:Douglas Croft Images)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)
Our planet is an ocean planet: Earth Is Blue. The National Marine Sanctuary System protects some of the most iconic underwater places throughout the United States, but we can't do it without you. No matter where you are, the ocean and Great Lakes are in your hands. We hope these images inspire you to help care for our ocean and to spread the word that Earth isn't green – it's blue.
Today is International Mountain Day – and did you know that there are mountains in the ocean? Seamounts are undersea mountains formed by volcanic activity, and they're typically biological hotspots. For example, on Davidson Seamount in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, researchers with Nautilus Live encountered more than a thousand Muusoctopus octopuses tucked into nooks! Most of the octopuses had their arms inverted in a brooding posture. We love a good octopus garden, but we love an octopus garden on an ocean mountain even more!
Photo: OET/NOAA
Someone call Louis Armstrong! This trumpetfish is using some A+ camouflage to blend in at NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Trumpetfish often remain motionless to fool their prey into getting too close. We bet they wouldn’t fool Louis, though!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Up, up, and away! This little Cassin's auklet is taking flight in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Cassin's auklets are known for foraging for small crustaceans while swimming underwater. They can dive more than 120 feet below the surface!
Photo: Patrick Sysiong
Is this a Pacific white-sided dolphin in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary…or a bird?
Photo: Sage Tezak/NOAA
Wisdom is back in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument! Wisdom is a female Laysan albatross and the oldest known banded bird in the world. At least 69 years old, Wisdom is a world-renowned symbol of hope for all species that depend upon the health of the ocean to survive. Each year, she and her mate Akeakamai return to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the monument to mate, lay an egg, and raise their chick. To date, Wisdom has hatched more than 35 chicks over the course of her life. Welcome back, Wisdom!
Photo: William Kennerley/USFWS
Looking for a way to help corals stay healthy? Make sure you're using a reef-safe sunscreen or use Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) sunwear! Several chemicals in traditional sunscreen can damage and kill corals, and are also harmful to green algae, sea urchins, fish, mussels, and dolphins. Even if you don't live near the ocean, when you shower, the chemicals in sunscreen may wash off and enter our waterways. So by making a small change in your sun protection, you can help support healthy coral reefs!
Photo: Olivia Williamson
Who's that reaching out from the coral reef of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary? A sneaky brittle star! Every August, the reef-building corals within the sanctuary put on one of the most abundant spawning displays in the entire Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Each coral species times its gamete (egg and sperm) release to ensure genetic mixing and that coral larvae can disperse over large distances. The gametes also provide a feast for small animals like this brittle star.
Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA
What's wrong with this picture? These two images show a reef in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa just months before (left) and after (right) a bleaching event. When we burn energy sources like gasoline and coal, we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide acts like a heat-trapping blanket, keeping heat from the sun close to the planet and warming the atmosphere and the ocean. Corals are sensitive to temperature: if the water gets too warm, they expel the colorful algae that they need to survive. This is called bleaching, and if it lasts long enough, the corals can die. But there are things we can do: by working with your community to curb your fossil fuel consumption and reduce other coral stressors, like pollution, you can help protect vibrant coral reefs!
Photo: XL Catlin Seaview Survey/The Ocean Agency
Did you know there are corals in the deep ocean? It's true! Many species of coral thrive in the deep sea, like this Swiftia coral in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The corals position themselves so they can grasp small particles of food from the current, and also provide habitat for other animals like these brittle stars. What other deep-sea dwellers can you spot here?
Photo: OET/NOAA
Happy Corals Week! All week long, we'll be celebrating the beauty and importance of coral reef ecosystems around the world. Stay tuned for some coral-ly awesome facts! This colorful coral structure provides habitat for a variety of species in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Is an eagle by the sea technically a seagull? We’re not shore, but we hope you fly into the new week and the new month like this bald eagle in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Karlyn Langjahr/NOAA
Selfie Saturday! NOAA diver Mitchell Tartt paused for this science selfie while surveying the coral reefs of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Not a bad place to spend a day for work!
Photo: Mitchell Tartt/NOAA
What's the largest bony fish in the ocean? Holy mola - it's the mola mola! This mola mola, also known as an ocean sunfish, was spotted in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Marybeth Head/NOAA
We’ve got the Cali-formula for healthy ecosystems here at NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary! This week we're thankful for the ongoing Kent Island Restoration Project. Hundreds of volunteers have removed 60,000 square feet of invasive plants and restored more than 10 acres of habitat, making room for pollinators, other insects, birds, and more. Learn more about this coastal restoration project and how you can get involved at.
Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA
Star light, star bright, first...ochre star I see today on this beach in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary?
Photo: Anne Mary Schaefer
Yeah, I'm a huge fan. Are you?
Sea fans are closely related to the stony corals that build coral reefs. They orient themselves with the prevailing current so that they can catch tiny food particles. These beautiful invertebrate colonies grow throughout NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
This common dolphin hopes you have a fin-tastic week! These fast and energetic dolphins can be spotted by lucky whale watchers in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
They may be tiny, but krill are mighty! Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that are found throughout national marine sanctuaries, including in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. These little critters are an important food source for fish, seabirds, and whales alike: during feeding season, blue whales eat two to four TONS of krill each day!
Photo: Sophie Webb/NOAA
One fish, two fish...lots and lots and lots of fish! Eelgrass thrives in the shallow waters of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. In addition to providing habitat for fish, eelgrass beds provide shelter to snails, sea stars, anemones, crabs, and clams.
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Say hello to our newest national marine sanctuary: Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary! This sanctuary protects over 100 World War I-era wooden shipwrecks, many of which have been partially reclaimed by nature. Learn about our recent community celebration and how you can visit this historic treasure.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
On this day 148 years ago, the schooner E.B. Allen took its last voyage in Lake Huron. While the ship was bound for Buffalo, New York, a thick fog settled over the water. Unable to navigate, E.B. Allen collided with another vessel. Fortunately, all of the ship's crew were rescued and no lives were lost. Today, E.B. Allen lies at about 100 feet beneath the surface, protected by NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: NOAA
Comment below if manatees are your favorite animal! Manatees like those in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary can munch as much as 150 pounds of seagrass per day. These gentle, slow-moving animals are at risk from boat strikes, but conservation efforts are helping them! When you're boating in manatee habitat, always make sure to slow down and keep an eye out.
Photo: Robert Bonde/USGS
Snack time! Seabirds like this Cory's shearwater flock to NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to chow down on fish like sand lance. Their activities help researchers in the sanctuary track the health of fish populations, which in turn indicates how the sanctuary is doing overall.
Photo: Peter Flood
This Risso's dolphin is breakin' free! This species is very active on the ocean surface when they're not diving 1,000 feet deep near the edge of the continental shelf. This one was spotted swimming in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Douglas Croft
29 never looked so fine – happy anniversary to NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary! Protecting over 3,800 square miles and the only barrier coral reef in the continental United States, the sanctuary is home to a plethora of marine wildlife, including this beautiful red grouper. Learn how you can help the sanctuary thrive for the next 29 years and beyond
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
We see silly seals by the sea shore! While Hawaiian monk seals are undeniably adorable, they're also one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet. NOAA Fisheries Service and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument are working hard to help the population recover, but they still remain in critical status.
Photo: Paulo Maurin/NOAA
Raise your hands 🙌 if you love NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary as much as we do!
Photo: Dan Evans Jr.
You knew about seahorses but did you know about sea bunnies? This fluffy-looking nudibranch is called the white-knight dorid and lives in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and elsewhere along the West Coast. Maybe bring a carrot next time you go diving here! (JK, they eat sponges.)
Photo: Chad King/NOAA
Shipwrecks on the ocean floor provide a safe harbor for all sorts of marine life! Here, fish flourish around the wreck of the USS Tarpon, located near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. This U.S. submarine sank in World War II and now rests at a depth of 135 feet. Tarpon is heavily encrusted with coralline algae and other invertebrates, and sand tiger sharks are often spotted here.
Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA
This summer, NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary held a "Vet Into Your Sanctuary" fishing trip to bring U.S. military veterans out to the sanctuary. A total of 22 participants enjoyed an educational and fun fishing day with support from Project Healing Waters. A day on the water with a fishing rod in hand can provide veterans and others with a personal connection to the ocean that can develop to a life-long appreciation and continued stewardship of our underwater parks. We're honored to have been able to provide this opportunity to our veterans – happy Veterans Day!
Photo: Sepp Haukebo
The lagoon triggerfish is also known as the Picasso fish – an apt name for its bright colors. These beautiful reef-dwellers are found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including in Hawai‘i. This one was spotted in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Michelle Smith
Cephalopod Saturday! 🐙💙 This gorgeous octopus was spotted in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary during an expedition with Nautilus Live.
Photo: OET/NOAA
Happy Manatee Awareness Month! Frequent visitors to NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, manatees face threats of habitat loss and watercraft collisions. But it’s not all doom and gloom for these gentle sea cows, as manatee populations have been increasing significantly since conservation efforts began. If you're boating in a known manatee habitat, keep them safe and slow down!
Photo: Bob Bonde/USGS
Sandbar sharks might not be the biggest sharks in the seas, but they are certainly impressive. Sandbar sharks are one shark species spotted at NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, where they tend to stay near the ocean floor. These beautiful sharks prey on fish, mollusks, and small crustaceans. Have you seen one while diving in the sanctuary?
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
I spy with my little eye something…red! Well, red for now. This common octopus in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary can change colors to hide from predators and to surprise prey. Specialized cells called chromatophores in the octopus’s skin allow it to camouflage itself with its surroundings. These clever cephalopods may be hard to play I Spy with, but they’re amazing at Hide and Seek!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
What do you call a fish in space? A starfish! Though you may not actually be able to spot any sea stars in the night sky, many national marine sanctuaries offer beautiful views of dark skies. Here, the Milky Way shines brightly over the Anacapa Island Lighthouse in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Happy birthday to NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! Though thousands of miles apart, both of these sanctuaries offer refuge to humpback whales. Each summer, humpback whales migrate from the Caribbean to Stellwagen Bank off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where they and other whales feast on the food that flourishes in sanctuary waters. And in the Pacific, humpback whales journey to the warm waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands each winter to mate, calve, and raise their young.
Top photo: Jeremy Winn; bottom photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Fisheries Permit 14682-38079
Happy Jellyfish Day! These baby fish are celebrating by hanging out in the bell of a moon jelly in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. What's your favorite species of jellyfish to see in your national marine sanctuaries?
Photo: Tiffany Pixie Duong/Ocean Rebels
A whale watcher's treat: Moments after a 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck California near NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary last month, these humpback whales went into a breaching extravaganza. While it's not possible to say for sure, the whales were likely responding to the noise that occurred underwater during the earthquake.
Photo: Douglas Croft
We’re manatee-ing off Manatee Awareness Month with this big flex. Manatees are large, slow-moving herbivores that reside in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in the winter. Unfortunately, manatees are listed as a federally threatened species, largely as a result of collisions with boats. Remember to always slow down when boating in areas known to have manatees!
Photo: Keith Ramos/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Congratulations to Bruce Sudweeks, first place winner of the Sanctuary Life category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Life often flourishes on shipwrecks: here, fish swim around a tugboat located near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
Congrats to Tiffany Pixie Duong for capturing first place in the Sanctuary Views category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Her photo brings Molasses Reef in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary alive on the screen. What invertebrates can you spot?
This turtle-y awesome picture from Olivia Williamson swam right into 1st place for the Sanctuary Recreation category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! This diver got a treat when a green sea turtle swam by in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Scuba diving is one of the best ways to explore our beautiful national marine sanctuaries. When swimming near wildlife, always give them plenty of space. Don't follow animals, cut off their path, or get between mothers and young; rather, watch quietly like this diver is doing. Learn more about responsible recreation.
Ooh, barracuda! Mike Johnson's photograph of two barracuda in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary takes 2nd place in the Sanctuary Life category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Barracuda are highly effective ambush hunters with two sets of razor-sharp teeth. Mike waited for 45 minutes, hovering just off the seafloor, for these barracuda to approach close enough to get a stunning photo that wouldn't disturb them.
Take a trip to Bowling Ball Beach in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary! Congratulations to Anne Mary Schaefer for this stunning photo, which placed 2nd in the "Sanctuary Views" category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest.
2nd place in our Sanctuary Recreation category for the Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest goes to Keith C. Flood! Keith photographed these divers exploring the Florida shipwreck at 200 feet of water in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The steamer Florida sank in 1897 after a collision with the steamer George W. Roby, which nearly cut the ship in half. Today, the wreck sits awaiting exploration by advanced divers.
Lunch time! Thanks to Douglas Croft Images, this hungry humpback whale lunged its way right into 3rd place in the Sanctuary Life category of our Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest. One way humpback whales get their meals is by lunge feeding, when they rush up to the surface with open mouths and swallow mouthfuls of fish. Congratulations to Douglas for such an amazing NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary photo!
Congratulations to Dustin Harris, whose photo of an island fox watching the sunset in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary placed third in the "Sanctuary Views" category! Island foxes are only found on California's Channel Islands and nowhere else in the world. They're the largest of the islands' native land mammals, but one of the smallest canid species in the world.
Photo: Dustin Harris
Today's our anniversary, and we're celebrating by kicking off the announcement of our Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest winners! Placing third in the "Sanctuary Recreation" category is Anne Mary Schaefer, with this paw-fect walk on the beach in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Congratulations, Anne Mary!
Photo: Anne Mary Schaefer
Don't let the spikes fool you! While their cousins the sea urchins are covered with long, hard spines, sea cucumbers like this one in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa are actually covered with soft, leathery skin.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Sing it with us (and this humpback whale): Happy birthday to the Marine Mammal Protection Act! Enacted on this day in 1972, this important piece of legislation helps us protect animals like this humpback whale in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The act ensures that marine mammals like whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters, and dolphins can carry out their normal lives without disruption – and without the threat of hunting, poaching, or exploitation.
Photo: Carolyn O'Connor
Citizen science isn't just for people anymore! This Muusoctopus octopus hopped aboard Nautilus Live's ROV Hercules last week to get a better look. Hercules was exploring a whale fall in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuarythat was being scavenged by octopuses, fish, and other animals. The octopus crawled along Hercules' sampling vessels before presumably going back to eat some more. A whale fall – the carcass of a whale that has sunk to the seafloor – can feed communities of organisms for months or years.
Photo: OET/NOAA
Lift off into the weekend like these beautiful cormorants in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Dan Evans Jr.
This isn't exactly how this rockfish imagined starting off its weekend. Last week, researchers with Nautilus Live got a surprise when exploring NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. This sea star was attempting to eat a rockfish – sushi dinner?
Photo: OET/NOAA
Scientists aboard the E/V Nautilus got a treat yesterday when they came across a whale fall in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! When whales die at sea, they sink to the seafloor where they can feed other organisms for years. There, the whale carcass or skeleton is known as a whale fall. The Nautilus Live team found this whale fall at a depth of 10,623 feet while exploring Davidson Seamount, an underwater mountain. The whale skeleton is lying on its back and is an estimated 13 to 16 feet in length. The team is working to identify the species, but it is confirmed to be a baleen whale. Look closely and you can see Muusoctopus octopuses and other marine animals!
Photo: OET/NOAA
Loch Ness Monster? Not at all – it's a gray seal in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary! While gray seals may appear approachable in the wild, human interference is a major threat to these marine mammals. Fishing entanglements, watercraft strikes, and interactions with humans put them at risk. Help protect gray seals by keeping a safe distance and not approaching them too close on land or on water.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Finding new friends in unlikely places! This flapjack octopus and rockfish were spotted cozying up in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary during a recent Nautilus Live dive.
Photo: OET/NOAA
We don't know about you, but we're pretty sure this sea lion in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary just realized it's Monday.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Grumpy that you missed last week's Nautilus Live expedition in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary? We've got you covered – this week we'll be exploring the deep waters of NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Tune in at nautiluslive.org.
Photo: OET/NOAA
There's nothing quite like a sunrise at sea. Where are you finding beauty this weekend?
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Octopus, or coral? This day octopus (he‘e in Hawaiian) in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is showing off its excellent camouflage skills. Octopuses and other cephalopods have specialized cells called chromatophores that allow them to change their colors; plus, they can change the texture of their skin to mimic the environment around them! This camouflage helps them go unseen by both predators and prey.
Photo: James Watt/NOAA
This octopus wants to know: have you been following the E/V Nautilus expedition in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary? We're exploring the deep waters of these national marine sanctuaries with Nautilus Live, and you can watch the expedition in real time at nautiluslive.org! Tune in for the chance to see adorable octopuses and more.
Photo: OET/NOAA
We're not squidding around when we say we love cephalopods! Photographer Alexander Neufeld describes his encounter with this beautiful reef squid in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary this way: "A reef squid in the black waters off of Key Largo during a night dive. Several squid joined us during a portion of the dive, hovering just below the surface, which allowed for the reflection of the squid's body in the final image. Once the squid had enough of us, it took off in a cloud of ink."
Photo: Alexander Neufeld
We have some whale-y good news: the first humpback whale of the season has been spotted in Hawai‘i! Thousands of humpback whales return to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary each year to breed, give birth, and nurse their young. If you're in Hawai‘i – or anywhere else near the ocean – always make sure to give whales and other marine life plenty of space.
While this photo isn't this year's first whale, but rather a past visitor to the sanctuary, we hope to have photos soon!
Photo: NOAA, under NOAA Permit #782-1438
Cordell Bank rises from deep, dark waters off the coast of California – and is home to a technicolor array of marine life! Here, hundreds of widow rockfish swim through NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary above bright invertebrates. Can you name the pink anemones growing on the bank?
Photo: Robert Lee/BAUE
Rose Atoll Marine National Monument rests within the waters of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. It's known for its striking rosy reefs, which get their hue from pink coralline algae. These beautiful reefs are home to more than 100 species of coral, as well as large populations of giant clam, reef fish, and more.
Photo: Mark Manuel/NOAA
Sometimes even sea lions need to kick back and soak up some sun with their buddies. These sea lions found a buoy in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to hang out on. Where are you relaxing this weekend?
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
“Hey everybody, party at NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary tonight! Tell the whole school!” Hoping your Friday night plans are as fun as these Atlantic spadefish's.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Phillips
10/10 points for orca acrobatics! This breaching orca is showing off its black and white patterning in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. An orca's high-contrast patterning helps obscure the outline of its body underwater so it's harder for prey to recognize it.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Take a deep dive into history with NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary! The first national marine sanctuary ever designated in the U.S., this small sanctuary protects the wreck of the USS Monitor. Monitor is distinguished by being the first ironclad war vessel to fight for the United States – during the Civil War, it faced off with the Confederate CSS Virginia. It later sank in a storm off the coast of North Carolina, and today it rests on the seafloor, a memorial to those who were lost and a haven for sea life.
Photo: NOAA
Blenny for your thoughts! What do you think this seaweed blenny in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is thinking?
Meet the giant clam, also known as faisua in Samoan! These beautiful clams can be spotted in the coral reefs of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Once nestled into a location on the reef, a giant clam will remain stationary throughout its life. Like corals, giant clams have developed symbiotic partnerships with algae called zooxanthellae. In return for shelter, zooxanthellae provide giant clams with nutrients they've photosynthesized – and help give the clam's mantle its pretty colors.
Photo: NPS
So, uh, was anyone going to tell us that northern elephant seals are WAY bigger than sea otters, or were we supposed to find that out ourselves?
Photo: Phil Arnold
Whale, whale, whale – it's World Tourism Day! Your national marine sanctuaries are the perfect place for ocean adventures. Whether you're a fan of whale watching in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary or tide pooling in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, there's something for everyone. Find your adventure.
Photo: K. Grosskruetz/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240
Today is World Environmental Health Day. The environments of the ocean – from coral reefs to kelp forests – depend on us to help keep them healthy. We can all do our part, whether it's through reducing our use of plastics or working with our communities to reduce our carbon footprints. What will you do today, tomorrow, and the next day to help protect our blue planet?
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Happy anniversary to NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary! This jewel of the Great Lakes protects the wrecks of more than 100 vessels that have been claimed by fire, ice, collisions, and storms. The sanctuary serves as a museum of the Great Lakes' maritime history. You can explore the many shipwrecks by diving, snorkeling, and paddling – and if you'd rather not get your feet wet, you can experience history at the many lighthouses that dot the sanctuary's shores.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
You otter believe this sea otter is having an otterly delicious snack! Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Jessie Hale studies sea otters in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. She got a treat when she spotted this female otter chowing down on a lingcod egg mass.
Photo: Jessie Hale
It's Sea Otter Awareness Week, and these sea otters in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary want to know if you're aware of them! When you're exploring your national marine sanctuaries, make sure to keep an eye on your distance from wildlife like sea otters. Though they are otterly adorable, they'll be safer and healthier if you give them plenty of space.
Douglas Croft
Happy anniversary to NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! This southern California sanctuary encompasses 1,470 square miles off of Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, and Santa Rosa islands. It protects everything from deep-sea coral communities to lush kelp forest. Nearshore, giant kelp helps support immense biodiversity – visitors can see sea lions, giant sea bass, and more!
Photo: Brett Seymour/NPS
Today is the International Coastal Cleanup! Whether you're participating in an official clean-up event or just picking up trash in your neighborhood, let us know how you're helping keep the ocean clean today. Here, two volunteers from Blue Kahuna Surf help remove marine debris from NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Jessica Hogan
These American white pelicans are celebrating Estuaries Week in style! Estuaries are locations where rivers meet the sea. Located in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Elkhorn Slough is one of California's great estuaries. Flushed by ocean tides in the heart of Monterey Bay, its waterways, mudflats, and marsh support a huge diversity of wildlife. Estuaries like Elkhorn Slough provide food, shelter, migration stopovers, and places to breed for many animals. However, they're also quite delicate and need our help to ensure they remain thriving ecosystems. Learn more about estuaries and how you can support them.
Photo: Douglas Croft
What happens to trash after it flows down a creek or falls off a vessel at sea? Usually, it stays in the ocean for a long, long time. There, it can choke animals who mistake it for food, or entangle animals and drown them. This huge conglomeration of fishing nets and other trash was removed from French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument by NOAA Marine Debris and partners. Since 1996, they have removed 1017 tons of debris the remote expanses of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which is about the same weight as nine blue whales! You can help keep debris out of the sea by participating in a cleanup this weekend for the International Coastal Cleanup, or any other day of the year.
Photo: Koa Matsuoka
This humpback whale is lunging out of the ocean to wish NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary a very happy birthday! 🐋🎂 And also, of course, to get a mouthful of fish, because what's a celebration without snacks? This iconic sanctuary protects 36 species of marine mammals, more than 180 species of seabirds and shorebirds, 525 species of fish, and a multitude of invertebrates and algae. How many can you name?
Photo: Douglas Croft
Eyes of a hawk, and ears of a...fish?
Stocky hawkfish are known as po‘opa‘a in Hawaiian. In the coral reefs of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, they linger atop corals and survey their surroundings for prey, much like their terrestrial namesake. As an added level of protection, a stocky hawkfish’s pectoral fins are resistant to the stinging cells of fire corals, which normally harm other organisms upon contact. Well played, hawkfish. Well played.
Photo: James Watt/NOAA
Oh buoy! This drill team is hard at work installing new mooring buoys in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Buoys allow boaters to enjoy their time out on the water without damaging the coral reef and seagrass bed ecosystems that lie beneath them. Buoys serve as as an alternative to anchoring, which is prohibited in waters less than 40 feet deep, and can also be used as markers relaying specific information about the area.
Photo: NOAA
This sea star traveling on a sea urchin in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary would like to share an underwater hitchhiking pro-tip: if it moves, it's transportation!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Whale, whale, whale, what do we have here?
Whale watchers in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary got a surprise visit from a gray newborn orca calf traveling with 10 members of the transient orca pod known as the CA216 family. While most orcas are black and white, little is known about the uncommon gray pigment of this youngster. The science is clear on one thing – this newborn is 100% adorable!
Photo: Douglas Croft
In addition to being markers of our maritime past, shipwrecks are home to a vast number of marine species – like these frilled anemones on the wreck of the Portland in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Next week, researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Marine Imaging Technologies will be visiting Portland and other shipwrecks to assess the state of the wrecks. They'll be livestreaming their expedition, and you can tune in while they journey deep beneath the ocean's surface! Leran more abouth this expedition.
Photo: NOAA
Some days you just have to lie down, wrap yourself in kelp, and nap the day away. It's all part of that pawsitive self care.
Photo: Douglas Croft
From tragedy to new life: sunk by a German U-boat during World War II, the American cargo ship Caribsea is now host to a vibrant reef not far from NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. The wreck is largely intact and is now a popular dive site.
Photo: NOAA
Strange but true: leather sea stars, like this one in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, smell like garlic! That's why they're also sometimes known as garlic stars. Have you ever gotten a whiff of one in your national marine sanctuaries?
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Mondays are for maritime history, and NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary has got lots of it! D.M. Wilson, pictured here, is one of the many wrecks sitting at the bottom of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron. In 1894, the wooden ship was headed for Milwaukee with its usual shipment of coal when a leak stopped it in its tracks. Despite attempts to tow it to safety, the ship sank near Thunder Bay Island. Today, divers can see most of the Wilson’s hull, which remains largely intact!
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Us: Hey, wanna hear a joke?
Gray seal in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: sure
Us: Why do seals swim in salt water?
Gray seal: …
Us: …
Because pepper water makes them sneeze!
Gray seal: *face palm*
Don’t tell gray seals sealy jokes. Instead, earn your seal of approval by keeping a safe distance from them to protect them from human disturbances.
Photo: Anne Smrcina/NOAA
How would you caption this photo of a pair of masked boobies in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument?
Photo: Lindsey Kramer/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Seas the day with our National Marine Sanctuary System! Like this group of visitors enjoying a morning yoga session on the shores of Second Beach in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary there is an opportunity for everyone to experience our sanctuaries.
Photo: Karlyn Langjahr/NOAA
What bottom dwelling marine critter found in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary does this suspicious eye belong to? Leave a comment below with your guess, and we'll have the answer for you later today!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Happy National Wildlife Day! Not only are we celebrating our sanctuary wildlife, but also the partnerships that exist between many of them. In Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, sea turtles like these two get routine clean-ups from grazing reef fish at “cleaning stations” found along the reefs. The fish keep the sea turtles free of algae and other organisms that live on them, while the reef fish get a snack! A win-win situation if you ask us.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
My, what big teeth you have! Sand tiger sharks like this one can often be spotted on the wrecks of the Graveyard of the Atlantic, near NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. But never fear – though their teeth make them look fearsome, sand tiger sharks are typically docile near divers.
Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA
Like the sun setting over Southeast Farallon Island in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, our photo contest is coming to a close. The Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest closes at the end of the day, so now's the time to submit those last few photos!
Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA
Seen any cool nudibranchs lately, like this Spanish shawl nudibranch in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary? Now's the perfect time to submit your photos to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest!
Photo: Cindy Shaw
When is a whale not a whale? When it's a whale shark! While whales are mammals, whale sharks are actually fish, named for their vast size. Like some whales, they are also filter feeders, chowing down on plankton. During the summer months, whale sharks travel to NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico to find this favorite food.
Photo: Kevin Lino/NOAA
Going on a coastal getaway this Labor Day weekend? Show our ocean and Great Lakes some love by leaving no trace when visiting, and helping out with a beach clean up if you can! Collective efforts to keep our water bodies a cleaner, better place, like these two volunteers are doing in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, is shore to be a crowd pleaser!
Photo: Karlyn Langjahr/NOAA
Nothing hits the spot like a midday nap, especially for sea otters! Due to their high metabolism, sea otters – like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – have to eat and rest a lot as part of their daily routine. As otterly adorable as they are, it’s important to keep a safe viewing distance when coming across a sea otter in the wild so you don't interrupt the time they need to take care of themselves. Keep sea otters safe and undisturbed by respecting their space, and their naps!
Photo: Cat Harper
We're o-fish-ally in the last week of the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! Remember to submit your best photos of sanctuary wildlife, scenery, and recreation by September 2nd.
Photo: Steve Miller
Witnessing the spectacular wildlife of our national marine sanctuaries – like this humpback whale in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary –
is always whaley exciting! It’s important to keep a safe viewing distance to make sure the wildlife aren’t disturbed by our admiration. In Hawai’i, whales cannot be approached closer than 100 yards, which protects humpback whales and whale watchers alike.
Photo: NOAA, under NOAA Fisheries Permit #782-1438
Incoming!
Brown pelicans like this one in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary are master divers. A brown pelican can plunge into the water from as high as 60 feet above the surface.. Then it's able to scoop up surprised fish into its throat pouch – a handy meal!
Photo: Douglas Croft
Hear ye, hear ye! Calling photographers of all skill levels – submit your best photos of our National Marine Sanctuary System’s scenery, wildlife, and recreation to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! Submissions are open until September 2nd.
Photo: Daryl Duda
Animal or plant? Both the feathery object and the coils in this photo may look like plants (or something otherworldly) but they're actually animals! Researchers from the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary witnessed this reef at Alderdice Bank in the Gulf of Mexico. The feathery creature is a feather black coral, while the coils are known as sea whip corals. Both feed on plankton that is swept by in the current!
This photo is from an ongoing expedition that is livestreaming dives from areas in and around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Tune in and learn more.
Photo: GFOE/NOAA
Keep your friends close, and your anemones further away! Sea anemones – like this one found in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – are close relatives of coral and jellyfish. While their brightly colored tentacles are a beautiful sight, they are actually venomous and are used for capturing prey. Most species are benign to humans, but keeping your hands to yourself protects both you and the animal. Don't make an enemy of a sea anemone!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Sea lion in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary once it realizes it’s not supposed to be flying: ...AAAHHH!
Photo: Dru Devlin/NOAA
NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects one of the most iconic ocean places in the world. But these important ocean habitats are in jeopardy of being “loved to death.” To survive for future generations, the Keys need to change, and there’s no time to lose. The sanctuary is proposing a new Restoration Blueprint, and we want to hear from you.
Photo: Shawn Verne
Now presenting the rosy palace of Rose Atoll, located in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! The reef at Rose Atoll gets its pink hues from crustose coralline algae, an unassuming friend of the coral reef ecosystem. While corals lay down their own stony skeleton, crustose coralline algae crust over and between the structures to help cement them together, forming a reef. Can you name a more iconic duo?
Photo: J. Kenyon/NOAA
We have an announcement: we've decided that this Facebook account will now be a succulent appreciation account.
Just kidding! This isn't a plant – it's a white-lined nudibranch. Nudibranchs, like this one found in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, are sea slugs that often come in striking colors and forms. While they may look like they're making a fashion statement, nudibranchs often depend on their brilliant colors as defense from predators.
Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA
We’re a big fan of deep-sea fans! This fan coral and its fish friends were found at a depth of about 100 meters in the Santa Cruz Canyon, part of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Unlike their shallow-water relatives, deep sea corals don’t need sunlight to thrive; instead, they obtain energy and nutrients by trapping tiny organisms that pass through the water. Pretty fan-tastic if you ask us!
Photo: Marine Applied Research and Technology
Winter flounder in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: “How does my new cloak of invisibility look?”
Us: You tried.
Photo: Deborah Marx/NOAA
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the...lake? That’s right! Sailing, kayaking, or even paddling a traditional Mackinaw boat are among the many ways you can explore the maritime history and natural wonder of NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located in Lake Huron. There are recreational activities available for visitors of all skill levels! So, water you waiting for?
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
A day octopus – or he’e mauli in Hawaiian – sits pretty at French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Many cephalopods have special cells in their skin tissue called chromatophores that enable them to change color very rapidly. A part of their neuromuscular system, these cells receive signals from the environment that an octopus can use to inform color change. Octopodes of this particular species can change color almost instantly as they move over their environment, making them nearly invisible to predators!
Photo: Andrew Gray/NOAA
Let your photography skills glow like this anemone in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by submitting to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! Just a few more weeks to send in your photos.
Photo: Nathan Coyle
Just two sea star friends hanging out in an NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary tide pool. Tag your favorite tide pool buddy!
Photo: Shawn Sheltren/NPS
Have you heard the news? There's a brand new national marine sanctuary! Located in the tidal Potomac River, Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary protects a historic collection of shipwrecks. These shipwrecks in turn serve as habitat for many different animals, museums of our maritime past, and classrooms for students of all ages.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
For World Lion Day, we're bringing you the lions of the sea: Indo Pacific lionfish. As their name suggests, these fish are native to the Indo Pacific region, and are part of the food web in coral reefs in that area. In recent decades, though, these fish have been found in coral reefs throughout the southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean – including in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Experts speculate that people have been dumping unwanted lionfish into the ocean for the last 25 years or more.
In their newfound habitats, lionfish don't have natural predators – plus, they have voracious appetites and reproduce quickly. This may spell trouble for biodiversity in coral reefs. a group of 1,000 lionfish can consume 5 million prey fish in a single year! NOAA and our partners are working to understand and control this invasive species with new traps, lionfish derbies, and more. You can help by asking restaurants near you to serve lionfish, and learn more here.
Photo: Bess Bright
Are you spending your summer exploring your national marine sanctuaries? Don't forget to submit your photos to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! We're accepting photos in three categories – Sanctuary Life, Sanctuary Views, and Sanctuary Recreation – through Labor Day weekend.
Photo: Douglas Croft
Are you spending your summer exploring your national marine sanctuaries? Don't forget to submit your photos to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! We're accepting photos in three categories – Sanctuary Life, Sanctuary Views, and Sanctuary Recreation – through Labor Day weekend.
Photo: Michael Beattie
Sometimes it can be hard for maritime archaeologists to document shipwrecks because of all the fish! Here, NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary archaeologist Will Sassorossi and NOAA Ship Nancy Foster's navigation officer ENS Sara Thompson explore the shipwreck of the USS Schurz, which sank during World War I off the coast of North Carolina. Shipwrecks like the USS Schurz have a second life beneath the waves as artificial reefs. Invertebrates like anemones and corals may attach to the wreck surface, while fish like the many seen here shelter and feed around the wreck.
Photo: Tane Casserley/NOAA
If the moon and the stars became part of the deep-sea of NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, this is what they would look like. *Cue Twilight Zone music.*
Photo: NOAA
How important is water quality to our marine and freshwater ecosystems? Important enough that we dedicate a month to celebrate it! August is National Water Quality Month. Our national marine sanctuaries depend on clean water to ensure that biological diversity, coastal scenery, and recreational and commercial opportunities thrive. During “Snapshot Day” in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, hundreds of citizen science volunteers aid in water quality efforts, assessing rivers, streams, and other coastal California watersheds.
Photo: Christina Muegge
Gain a new perspective by visiting a national marine sanctuary near you! In NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, you can explore the mysterious sea caves that line the sanctuary or catch a whale watching tour. As we wrap up Get Into Your Sanctuary weekend, be sure to enter any sanctuary photos you love into the 2019 “Get into Your Sanctuary” photo contest
Photo: Sarah Raskin
Dive into our nation's maritime history and marine wonders with one of the many events taking place this weekend for Get Into Your Sanctuary!
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Are you joining us this weekend for Get Into Your Sanctuary days? Starting today through the weekend, we'll be holding events all across the country to celebrate the National Marine Sanctuary System. You don't have to be a scuba diver or a surfer to dive into the wonders of your national marine sanctuaries!
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Ever wonder what it might be like to have a sixth sense? Sharks have that covered! Specialized organs called ampullae of Lorenzini help these stealthy hunters detect small electrical fields released by other animals. That way, sharks can sense their prey even if it's buried in the sand or in murky water. Hammerhead sharks – like this one in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary – have an especially large number of these ampullae on their broad head.
Photo: Mitchell Tartt/NOAA
Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the sleepiest shark of them all?
Nurse sharks! These nocturnal bottom dwellers prefer to take it easy during daylight hours in caves and dark crevices. At night, nurse sharks scout the seafloor for crustaceans, mollusks, and other low-lying prey. This one was spotted in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Bonus points if you can spot the eel hanging out near this shark!
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Meow!
This filetail catshark – found at a depth of 470 meters in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – is indeed 100 percent shark. However, it has light-sensitive eyes similar to that of cats, which helps it hunt for fish and squid in the deep, dark waters that it lives in.
Photo: Kevin L. Stierhoff/NOAA
*Cue Jaws music*
This Laysan albatross, or mōlī, in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is in for a surprise. Tiger sharks like this one are voracious predators, much like their terrestrial namesake, and are known to take a bite out of just about anything that catches their attention. Though they can be frightening, sharks like the tiger shark are incredibly important animals in ocean environments. Sharks help remove dead or decaying debris from the ocean, and thereby help keep our ocean clean, while also helping to keep ecosystems in balance.
Photo: Ilana Nimz/NOAA
Hey...hey you…you know what week it is? It’s Shark Week! 🦈🦈🦈
For the next few days we’ll be sinking our teeth into the importance of sharks in our National Marine Sanctuary System. Caribbean reef sharks in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary play an important role as apex predators of smaller reef fish, and help maintain a healthy balance in the marine food web. What shark species are you looking forward to learning about this week?
Photo: Alexander Neufeld
No one said riding the waves in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary was going to be easy! The important thing is to try, and get back up after you get knocked down. 😊 Check out some of the best surf spots in the National Marine Sanctuary System
Photo: Kate Thompson/NOAA
Ride into the weekend like this shrimp hitching a ride on a jelly in NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Just how big are humpback whales? Consider the humpback whale tail, or flukes. From tip to tip, it can be 18 feet across!
Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240
Cephalopods octopi our hearts! This Caribbean two-spot octopus was spotted hanging around the coral cap in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. 🐙💙
Photo: GP Schmahl/NOAA
Jelly of this amazing photo? There's still time to submit your photos to the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! We're accepting photos in three categories – Sanctuary Life, Sanctuary Views, and Sanctuary Recreation – through September 2. We can't wait to see the National Marine Sanctuary System through your eyes!
Photo: Michael Alyono
Happy birthday to NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary! This amazing Pacific Northwest spot protects everything from shoreline tide pools to deep-sea canyons. Today, the sanctuary turns 25 years old!
Photo: The Ocean Agency
"I spend so much time outdoors and am always very careful to leave it as I found it, or better than I found it. I also became dive certified a few years ago so I could not only explore 'beneath the surface' but also help with clean-up efforts." – Jackie Krawczak, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary volunteer
What inspires you about the ocean and Great Lakes?
Take wing to the newest national marine sanctuary: Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary! Located on the tidal Potomac River, this brand-new addition to the National Marine Sanctuary System protects a series of shipwrecks, which in turn serve as habitat for animals like this osprey.
Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
We're considering a new national marine sanctuary in Lake Ontario, and we want to hear what you think! There are two more weeks to submit a comment about the proposed national marine sanctuary, which would protect historically-significant shipwrecks. Learn more about the proposal and how to comment.
Photo: NOAA
Looking for an adventure this summer? Join us for Get Into Your Sanctuary Days! From August 2 through 4, sites across the National Marine Sanctuary System will be holding events for our fifth national "Get Into Your Sanctuary" celebration.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Overheard in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary:
Western gull chick: Feed me! Feed me! Feed me!
Adult gull:
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
Can you spot the octopus? 🐙 Look closely and you might spot a little cephalopod among the many invertebrates of NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Clinton Bauder/BAUE
Happy Shark Awareness Day! Whale sharks are the biggest shark – and the biggest fish – in the ocean. These massive sharks are filter feeders, consuming tiny zooplankton. Like many shark species, whale sharks have hundreds of teeth, but theirs are tiny, pointed backwards, and thought to have no role at all in feeding. Lucky divers can spot these gentle giants in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
Photo: Sam Farkas
"Uh oh. Did I leave the stove on?" This Garibaldi in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is pretty sure it forgot something important...
Photo: Beata Lerman
Ride the waves into the weekend in NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary! Which beach are you visiting this weekend?
Photo: Jennifer Stock/NOAA
You don’t have to be a scuba diver to enjoy the kelp forests of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! Kayak tours are one way to adventure around the sanctuary, where you can paddle around sea caves and above the giant kelp forests with a birds-eye view of the underwater world beneath you.
Photo: Anna Jacobson/Channel Islands Adventure Company
Don’t you just love a healthy coral reef? NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa protects critical reef-building coral species, like these staghorn corals. Healthy coral reefs provide habitat for a wide variety of marine organisms, all the while protecting shorelines from large waves and storms.
Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA
Do you have some glamour shots of your National Marine Sanctuary System? Consider sending in your best shots for the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest! This opalescent nudibranch found in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was submitted in last year’s contest. Photos will be accepted through September 2.
Photo: Arial Bauman
BIG NEWS: Today, along with the state of Maryland and Charles County, we're announcing the designation of a new national marine sanctuary to protect the remains of more than 100 abandoned steamships and vessels built as part of America’s engagement in World War I. Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., is the first national marine sanctuary designated since 2000.
Photo: Nick Zachar/NOAA
Each year, literal tons of garbage washes up on the shores of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. There, it threatens animals including juvenile Laysan albatross, who may eat plastic pieces or get entangled in derelict fishing nets. NOAA works to clean up this trash to keep wildlife safe – since 1996, the marine debris team has removed 1.9 million pounds of derelict fishing gear and other garbage from the monument!
Photo: Ryan Tabata/NOAA
Overheard at NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary open mic:
“When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s *gasps*...a moray.”
Caption the reaction of the fish hiding behind the sea fan.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Trash and animals don't mix well! Do you know what to do if you spot a marine mammal in distress?
First off, don't try to approach or disentangle the animal yourself. Wild animals – especially scared ones – can be volatile, and may injure you or themselves. Instead, contact your local stranding network so that trained professionals can safely help the animal in distress. If you're in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where this fur seal was spotted, contact The Marine Mammal Center hotline (San Francisco Bay Area: 415-289-7325; Monterey or Santa Cruz Counties: 831-633-6298; San Luis Obispo County: 805-771-8300).
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
We’re celebrating stars (and stripes) today! #IndependenceDay is one of the most popular beach days of the year, but litter also follows large crowds onto our shores. Luckily, you can enjoy the salt, sand, and sun while being a steward of your local marine environment. By reducing your use of single-use plastics and leaving no trace when packing up for the day, you can help preserve our beaches and ocean for marine life, and make your visit a more enjoyable one! Bonus points if you set aside some time to clean up other parts of the beach.
What beach are you visiting today?
Photo: Nancy Sefton
Ever wondered what paradise looks like? Well look no further! The beaches and coasts of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa are truly a sight to sea. However, marine debris not only threatens the diverse wildlife protected by the sanctuary, but it can also be an eyesore for those who admire these beautiful and culturally-significant landscapes. When celebrating Independence Day, keep in mind that trash travels! You can help preserve our national marine sanctuaries by cleaning up after yourself and encouraging those around you to do the same.
Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Bereef it or not, every year around 8 million metric tons of plastic make their way into our ocean! Trash that is left behind on shores and beaches are often swept into the ocean by high tides and wind, and can travel thousands of miles once it enters the water. Even deep ecosystems far from shore, like this one in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, can be impacted plastic pollution. If you're visiting a beach this week for the Fourth of July, help keep our ocean clean and reefs healthy by joining a beach clean up, or take the lead and organize one!
Photo: Robert Lee/BAUE
Don’t be in breach of ocean etiquette! This week, we’ll be celebrating the red, white, and blue with Clean Beaches Week to protect and preserve our ocean and Great Lakes and all of their inhabitants, such as the humpback whales of NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Due to their feeding methods, whales and other cetaceans are vulnerable to encounters with marine plastic floating through their habitats. By keeping our beaches trash free and leaving no trace behind when we enjoy our shores, we’re also helping protect marine life down the line!
Photo: Anne Smrcina/NOAA
Whale you know what they say, the best things in life come when you’re not looking for them! That’s exactly what happened with whale watchers in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary recently when they had some surprise visitors. A pod of rare Baird’s beaked whales were spotted swimming in the area, including some calves. The elusive whales are usually found far out at sea, and likely traveled to Monterey Bay following food, like squid and fish.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
A fairy is among us! A fairy tern chick, that is. Known as manu-o-kū in Hawaiian, fairy terns are native to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, including Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Unlike most seabirds, fairy terns lay their eggs directly onto a surface like a tree branch or cliff ledge, rather than building a traditional nest! When the chicks hatch, they use their sturdy claws to grip onto the surface, which helps them weather even the strongest winds and storms.
Photo: Koa Matsuoka
Introducing the red Irish lord of NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary: a master of disguise, professional ambush predator, and in desperate need of some lip balm.
Photo: Katy Laveck Foster
Sink into some maritime history with NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary! The USS Monitor, pictured here, was the first ironclad warship in the Union army. In 1862 in the throes of the Civil War, Monitor led the Union into battle against the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads. While the battle ultimately resulted in a draw, it marked the end of an era for wooden warships! Later that year, the USS Monitor met its fateful end off the coast of North Carolina during a treacherous storm, along with 16 brave members of its crew. Over a century later when the shipwreck was discovered, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was designated as the first national marine sanctuary in the United States to protect our maritime heritage.
Photo: NOAA
Humpback whales aren’t the only ones that enjoy the waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! The sanctuary is also the perfect spot for responsible recreation. This surfer is riding the famous “Pipeline,” or “Pipe,” wave break on O’ahu’s North Shore, one of the most powerful (and dangerous) surf spots in the world. Have you surfed in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary or other sanctuaries?
Photo: Walker Langley
A visitor from the north! Photographer Douglas Croft snapped this photo of transient orca T165 in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary back in April. T165 and his family usually range in the waters of British Columbia and Alaska, and this was their first recorded visit to Monterey Bay.
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
"Did someone say it's snack time?" This black-crowned night heron was spotted resting in a tree on the coast of NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, possibly wondering if it's time for to go eat yet. These herons typically feed between evening and early morning, which helps them avoid competition with other heron species.
Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAA
When gray seals and other seals hang out in the water upright like this one, they're said to be "bottling." Gray seals are often spotted within NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, where – between rests – they feed on fish, crustaceans, squid, and sometimes even small seabirds. While gray seals may appear approachable in the wild, human interference is a major threat to these marine mammals. Fishing entanglements, watercraft strikes, and interactions with humans put them at risk. Help protect gray seals by keeping a safe distance and not approaching them too close on land or on water.
Photo: Anne Smrcina/NOAA
10/10 points for acrobatics and style for this humpback whale in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary!
Photo: Douglas Croft Images
While you're relaxing and having fun in your national marine sanctuaries this summer, don't forget to snap some photos and send them into the Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! This photo of a paddleboarder relaxing over the shipwreck Albany in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary was a 2018 "Sanctuary Portraits" submission. What photos will you send in?
Photo: Bryan Dort
In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma tore through NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, carrying large amounts of marine debris into the ocean. In response, the sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation launched Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys to help professional dive shops lead underwater cleanup efforts in the sanctuary. In its first year, the initiative removed more than 18,000 pounds of marine debris from sanctuary waters!
Photo: Jack Fishman
Looking for adventure this summer? Look no further than your national marine sanctuaries! Whether you prefer kayaking in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary or tide pooling in NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, we have something for everyone.
Photo: Sienna Streamfellow
Octopus in NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, who has places to be, other cephalopods to see: "Hey, do you mind? I’m a little octopied here!"
Every summer in recent years, we've teamed up with Nautilus Live to explore and map areas of our national marine sanctuaries. This octopus was one of many curious and exciting marine critters that we spotted in Cordell Bank in 2017!
Photo: OET/NOAA
Is it a plant? A coral? An extraterrestrial life form?
If you said none of the above, you’re correct! This crinoid in NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is a marine animal related to sea stars and sea urchins. Many crinoids can attach themselves to a hard surface, and use their feathery pinnules to catch plankton from the water.
(Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
Wisdom might get all the attention for being the world’s oldest known banded bird that has raised around 35 chicks in her lifetime (and counting!), but have you met her equally dedicated mate, Akeakamai?
Each year since 2006, Akeakamai, a Laysan albatross, has returned to Midway Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument with his mate Wisdom to raise a chick. Over the course of several months, both parents take turns incubating the egg. When they’re not on parenting duty, they forage for food. Once the egg hatches, both parents spend another 5 to 6 months raising the chick before it leaves the island. Happy Father's Day to Akeakamai and all the dedicated dads out there!
Photo: Bob Peyton/USFWS
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!
Who do you think will win in this NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary race: the humpback whale, or the sea lion?
(Photo: Peter Flood)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?”
(Photo: Sara Heintzelman/NOAANudibranch 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
What inspires you about the ocean and Great Lakes?
(Photo: NOAA)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.
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