Meet Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar, Grace Casselberry. Grace protects the ocean's top predators while studying the interactions between great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) and Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Pretend to be a time traveler today and get a glimpse of the mysterious sinkholes at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

In the winter months of December and January, gray whales can be seen passing by California during their southbound migration to Mexico.

Take a look at our Big Brothers Big Sisters Partnership with Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and Moody Gardens Aquarium. This partnership allows kids to foster some of their interests in marine science through educational activities, hands-on classes, and other outreach events.

Have you ever seen a busy beaver in Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary? Learn more about this keystone species in our new #EarthIsBlue video!

Take a virtual dive on Cordell Bank without getting wet and explore this colorful environment through this immersive experience. Discover colorful corals and anemones, rockfish, jellies, ocean sunfish and more.

What's that up there? It's the osprey of Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary! Meet these magnificent birds in our new #EarthIsBlue video!

Dive 230 feet below the Atlantic Ocean off the North Carolina coast on one of our nation's most historic shipwrecks, USS Monitor. This Civil War ironclad sank in 1862, and in 1975, it became the first national marine sanctuary – Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Transformed from a weapon of war to an island of marine life, Monitor continues to serve as habitat for a wealth of marine life. Dive in to see sand tiger sharks, sea turtles, and more!

BREAKING NEWS: NOAA releases proposal for national marine sanctuary off California coast

Following input from the public, stakeholders, Indigenous communities, scientists, and federal and state agencies, today NOAA released its proposal to designate Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, a 5,617-square-mile area offshore of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties in central California.

Learn about the jellies of your National Marine Sanctuary System in our new #EarthIsBlue video!

National marine sanctuary workers, partners, scientists, and volunteers are coming together to help coral reefs. How can you help corals? Find out in this week's #EarthIsBlue video!

The whitemouth moray eel, also known as phi ‘ōni’o, is one of the unique residents that calls Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary its home. Learn about this species in our new #EarthIsBlue video!

National marine sanctuary workers, partners, scientists, and volunteers are coming together to help coral reefs. How can you help corals? Find out in this week's #EarthIsBlue video!

Are corals in trouble? Find out in this week’s #EarthIsBlue video.

On the eve of #EarthDay, meet the coral reefs of your National Marine Sanctuary System! Coral reefs can be found in several sanctuaries from the Pacific Islands to the Gulf of Mexico. Learn about corals in our latest #EarthIsBlue video!

Today is #InternationalDayOfTheSeal! Northern elephant seals are found in national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast. Learn more about them in our #EarthIsBlue video.

A new discovery has been made in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Watch our #EarthIsBlue video to learn about Ironton, a shipwreck that has been located after 125 years.

Love is in the air this week as divers from Lee Oceans Foundation and Bay Area Underwater Explorers show their devotion to the ocean. Watch this week’s #EarthIsBlue video to find out how divers take care of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Learn about the fascinating invertebrates on found on the West Coast in our new

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act!

Marine mammals are vital to the balance of marine ecosystems and are key indicators of the overall health of the ocean. Enacted on this day in 1972, this important piece of legislation helps us protect animals like this orca in Monterey Bay 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.

Meet the Southern sea otter! 🦦

Sea otters aren’t just adorable animals with more fur per square inch than any other mammal. They’re also an important keystone species, meaning their presence is central to the health of their environment. Learn more about them in this #EarthIsBlue video!

Check out this week's Earth is Blue video featuring Lonny Anderson, an Environmental Specialist with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. As part of the damage assessment team Lonny serves an important role in monitoring these iconic reefs for damage caused by things like vessel groundings. ONMS is lucky to have such amazing staff on our team!

Whale disentanglement is a challenging task that requires the innovative tools, unshakable teamwork, and sometimes agonizing patience. Check out this Earth Is Blue video to see a NOAA-led response team hard at work.

There's a lot to see and do when you visit NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! From incredible wildlife supported by diverse ecosystems to exciting recreational opportunities, explore the California coast in this week's #EarthIsBlue video.

Do look up!

When you think of National Marine Sanctuaries you don't normally think of the sky. But when you’re in Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary it's hard not to look up! Check out this week’s Earth is Blue video to learn all about the avian ambassadors of this sanctuary, including one very famous species. It’s fitting that Mallows Bay lies just outside of our nation’s capital.

Seahorses are fish with unique features that allow them to thrive on McGrail Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary! Learn all about this special creature in our #EarthIsBlue video!

Let's take a trip to the mangrove forest! Get to know the mangrove jellyfish in this #EarthIsBlue video.

National marine sanctuaries protect more than just aquatic life. Places like Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located in Lake Huron, safeguard our nation's maritime history. Join your dive buddies on a visit to D.M. Wilson, one of the hundreds of shipwrecks protected in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

The 962-square mile area of Lake Michigan, named Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, was designated this month by NOAA with widespread support from a diverse coalition of organizations and individuals at local, state, regional, and national levels. The sanctuary will protect and celebrate the region’s maritime cultural heritage while creating unique research, educational, recreational, and tourism opportunities.

Meet our Steward Spotlight, Jaxine! Jaxine works with seabird data to help NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary understand the local ecosystem.

Encountering wildlife can be a once-in-a lifetime opportunity! These simple guidelines were created to educate the public to prevent human and wildlife conflict while promoting positive and memorable experiences.

Enjoyment and appreciation of the great outdoors is a fundamental American value. National marine sanctuaries are places of hope, inspiration, biodiversity, and resilience. But they are more than just ocean parks; they’re communities with diverse cultures, values, and ideas. By embracing and celebrating this diversity, we can ensure a bright future of our ocean and Great Lakes for current and future generations.

Get to know the beautiful and mysterious Pacific sea nettle found near NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in this week's #EarthIsBlue video!

In just a few short years, 90% of the kelp forests in northern California have disappeared. In 2018, a team of scientists, managers and resource users teamed up to create a Bull Kelp Recovery Plan that outlines specific research, monitoring, restoration and community engagement strategies to address the severe kelp loss off California’s Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

From bottlenose dolphins in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to spinner dolphins in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, many species of dolphin frequent your national marine sanctuaries. Learn about these marine mammals in this week's #EarthIsBlue video for #DolphinAwarenessMonth!

Did you know that seagrasses are the only flowering plants that thrive fully submerged in marine environments? Learn about the "lungs of the sea" found in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in this week's Earth Is Blue video!

Invasive species are organisms that cause ecological or economic harm in environments where they have been introduced. They can make their way to ocean and Great Lakes ecosystems through the ballast water of oceangoing ships, intentional and accidental releases of aquaculture species, aquarium specimens or bait, and other means. Today, meet two invasive species in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Whales can be entangled for years until someone reports the entanglement to the right responders. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary coordinates the community-based Hawaiian Islands Large Whale Entanglement Response Network. The network is part of the larger Pacific Islands Marine Mammal Response Network headed by NOAA Fisheries Service’ Pacific Islands Regional Office. The entire effort, plus associated monitoring, is overseen and authorized by NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.

In 1924 the W.G. Mason was dismantled and its steering gear removed and the tug’s enrollment was surrendered as “abandoned and dismantled at Rogers City” in December 1926. The lower bilge is covered in dropped fasteners, broken machinery, steel grating, angle iron, twisted reinforcement bands, and miscellaneous debris and shows clear evidence of burning. The hull and rudder are sheathed in plate iron.

Along the California coastline, Bolinas Lagoon is a magical place for birders, wildlife watchers, paddlers, and more. Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary has been working with partners to restore this special habitat so it can thrive and adapt to future changes.

Time to start the celebrations! More than 150 years ago, the USS Monitor made history during the battle of Hampton Roads. And 46 years ago tomorrow, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was designated to protect the resting time of this historic warship. Happy anniversary to Monitor National Marine Sanctuary!

Time to celebrate! Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has been expanded from 56 to 160 square miles. The expansion adds 14 additional reefs and banks to the sanctuary, with slight adjustments to the boundaries of the sanctuary's original three banks. The new sanctuary boundary extends protections to additional essential habitats for commercially and recreationally important fish, as well as habitats for threatened and endangered species, while also minimizing potential user conflicts.

From the mountains to the sea, the ocean connects us all. Check out one example of this in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary!

Step back in time and take a tour of the wreck of the Montana in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

What resolutions are you setting this year? In 2021, we encourage you to explore the beauty of your National Marine Sanctuary System. Have a Happy New Year and remember to always #RecreateResponsibly!

One of Lake Ontario’s most impressive recreationally accessible shipwrecks, St. Peter, is located northeast of Putneyville, New York. This 135-foot, three-masted schooner rests upright in 117 feet of water. Learn about the history of the schooner and the battle with 70 mph winds in this #EarthIsBlue video!

Purple sea urchins play a key role in kelp forests along the West Coast. Active grazers, these urchins feed on seaweeds, like giant kelp and bull kelp. Learn what happens when urchin populations increase in kelp forests in this video!

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary protects one of the largest near-shore "live-bottom" reefs in the southeast United States. Learn about this amazing ecosystem in this video!

Soar high above the ghost fleet with some of the incredible birds that call Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary home in this week's #EarthIsBlue video!

Need a little extra luck this Friday the 13th? This horseshoe crab is just what you need! Learn about these amazing creatures in this Earth Is Blue video.

All November, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is celebrating the return of the whales to sanctuary waters. Learn about humpback whales who visit this special place in our Earth Is Blue video!

Have you met any spooky creatures of the deep today? The organisms feeding on the body of this decaying whale are here to wish you an early Happy Halloween!

National marine sanctuaries are places of hope, inspiration, biodiversity, and resilience. But they are more than just ocean parks; they’re communities with diverse cultures, values, and ideas. By embracing and celebrating this diversity, we can ensure a bright future of our ocean and Great Lakes for current and future generations.

Dive into NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, one of the world's most diverse and productive marine regions! From blue whales and white sharks to seabirds and fish to krill and deep-sea corals, watch our latest #EarthIsBlue video to learn more!

Parrotfish won't be repeating lines back to you for a cracker, but you can certainly hear them chomping on a reef! Learn about this toothy fish found in sanctuaries and monuments across our system in our #EarthIsBlue video!

Every national marine sanctuary relies on small boats to conduct its on-water operations and implement its management plan, each of which addresses unique local challenges and opportunities. Get to know this program in our new video!

Have you ever heard of a basket star? Get to know this creature that scientists found near Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary!

It's time for some introductions! Meet the creatures that call Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary home in our Earth Is Blue Video!

Did you know there are spiders in the Gulf of Mexico? Meet the spider crab of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in this week's Earth Is Blue video!

Learn how a 360° photo is made in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in our new video!

Galapagos sharks are a fairly common sight in the protected waters of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Get to know these impressive creatures in our new Earth Is Blue video!

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is regarded as one of the best places to whale watch in the world! Hop aboard the boat and see some of the most impressive creatures showing off in our new video!

Can you spot the master of disguise hiding in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary? Learn about octopuses in our latest video!

Learn about the marbled grouper, recently spotted by a remotely operated vehicle near NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in our Earth Is Blue video!

Have you ever encountered one of these curious creatures on a trip to NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary? Meet the harbor seal in this week's Earth Is Blue video!

In May, the National Marine Protected Areas Center turned 20! Marine protected areas have come a long way in the past 20 years -- conserving the ocean's most important places. Check out their story in this video!

National marine sanctuaries protect more than just aquatic life. Places like Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located in Lake Huron, safeguard our nation's maritime history. Join your dive buddies on a visit to D.M. Wilson, one of the hundreds of shipwrecks protected in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Come along and explore with green sea turtles (honu) as they take you around Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Learn how Hawaii's volcanic islands were formed, swim with whitetip reef sharks, and watch your new turtle friends kick back and relax at the turtle spa.

Located off the coast of Southern California, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is a biological hotspot. Swim along with a playful sea lion as it takes you on a tour through the sanctuary’s kelp forests and rocky outcrops.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects some of the most iconic coral reefs in the world, but corals are suffering from disease and other stressors. Fortunately, NOAA and our partners are working together to restore these critical coral reefs. Grab your snorkel (okay, headset) and help restore the reef by planting healthy corals that will grow into thriving colonies.

Save the date! You're invited to Get Into Your Sanctuary days over the long weekend of July 31-August 2. We'll be holding events–virtual dives, webinars, and more–in celebration of recreation in your National Marine Sanctuary System.

Please give a warm welcome to the newest national marine sanctuary, Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary!

Some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world are located in the Gulf of Mexico, miles off the coast of Texas and Louisiana. Rising atop vast salt domes, three beautiful reefs – East and West Flower Garden Banks and Stetson Bank – are protected by NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Now, the sanctuary is proposing to expand to protect 14 additional reefs. Watch our video to learn about the proposal and how you can comment!

Curious scientists use remotely operated vehicles to explore remote corners of the National Marine Sanctuary System. But sometimes, the animals are just as curious as we are – like when this whiplash squid investigated the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research vehicle in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument!

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight – make a wish and get to know the sea stars of NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary!

Did you know that there are spiders in the ocean? Catch a glimpse of a sea spider in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

We often team up with NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research to investigate deep-sea habitats in your National Marine Sanctuary System. Check out some of the creatures we found a few years ago in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument!

Dreaming of the salt air and the ocean? Take a virtual dive with sea lions in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! If you're on a desktop, click and drag to experience the kelp forest in 360 degrees, or pair your phone with your virtual reality headset.

Meet the California sea cucumber, one of the many invertebrates that calls NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary home!

Marine debris is one of the major threats to NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Plastic trash and other garbage can entangle animals, flatten seagrass habitats, and damage corals. Through Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys, the sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation have supported 49 cleanup dives with 450 volunteer divers to remove 78 intact lobster traps, hundreds of pieces of lobster trap debris, 16,369 feet of line, and 14,693 pounds of debris from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Thank you to all the Goal: Clean Seas participants!

Off the coast of California, a mysterious mountain rises from the continental shelf. This is Cordell Bank, home to an astonishing array of technicolor marine life. Learn how NOAA's Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary came to be.

Invasive species are organisms that cause ecological or economic harm in environments where they have been introduced. They can make their way to ocean and Great Lakes ecosystems through the ballast water of oceangoing ships, intentional and accidental releases of aquaculture species, aquarium specimens or bait, and other means. Today, meet two invasive species in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Are you abalonely without abalone in your life? Get to know these marine invertebrates in our video.

"Within Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary are many, many storied places that are tied to the culture of the people that are living here," says Sol Kaho‘ohalahala, chair of the sanctuary's advisory council. "We must care for this place and the stories must be cared for, the resources must be cared for."

If you've visited Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, you might have been lucky enough to see a honu, or green sea turtle. Get to know these gentle creatures in our video!

Get to know the Atlantic needlefish, denizen of NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary!

The Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary are bringing the world of cinema to northeast Michigan! From January 22 through 26, visitors to the sanctuary will be treated to some of the most impressive ocean and Great Lakes films from all around the world. Check out what's in store!

The Florida Keys need our help: the coral reefs have been damaged by hurricanes, bleaching, disease, and heavy human use. But bold action can change the trajectory of the reefs of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. That's where Mission: Iconic Reefs comes in.

Whitetip reef sharks are frequently spotted in the coral reefs of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. These beautiful sharks are central members of the coral reef community and are also an important part of Native Hawaiian culture.

The NOAA Ocean Guardian School Program provides opportunities for kids to get out in their environment to do hands-on, stewardship-based projects. Get to know the program in our video, and learn how you can get involved.

Start your week off right with an incredible journey to a whale fall in NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary!

This week, we're celebrating our 47th birthday! Get to know all the amazing sites we work diligently each year to protect. Which ones have you visited?

Last year, scientists aboard the E/V Nautilus visited NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and discovered thousands of brooding octopuses in the deepsea! Check out our video to learn what it was like to make that discovery, and then visit nautiluslive.org to see their recent return to the octopus garden.

Dive under the surface of Lake Huron to discover the remains of the Lucinda Van Valkenburg shipwreck! For over a century, this vessel has rested within NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Who's that hitching a ride on NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's manta rays? It's the remora!

It's all about that bass – get to know the black sea bass of NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary!

Step back in time and take a tour of the wreck of the Montana in NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Wildlife Management Areas help NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary keep wildlife safe from human disturbances. Learn how this tool, and others, will help the sanctuary protect marine life for the future.

No, the Spanish slipper lobster isn't the newest trend in footwear. It's a crustacean sometimes spotted in NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary!

The ocean is full of animals that look like plants! Today, meet the dandelion siphonophore of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

Learn why grouper spawning areas near NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary are important for healthy fish populations!

What's the largest bony fish in the sea? Holy mola – it's the mola mola!

Have you been enjoying Shark Week? Today, meet the basking shark, a gentle filter feeder found in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

"We are at an important turning point in the future of the Florida Keys," says Sarah Fangman, superintendent of NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Later this year, the sanctuary will present a Restoration Blueprint to protect fragile ocean resources.

Please give a warm welcome to the newest national marine sanctuary, Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary!

Looking for adventures this summer? Check out the Pacific Northwest jewel that is NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary!

Since 1990, NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has worked with partners and the local community to understand and protect the Keys' critical resources. Now it's time to do more to protect, respond, and recover. This year, the sanctuary will propose a Restoration Blueprint that embodies what we have learned from nearly 30 years of cutting-edge science, technical experience, and local community involvement. Learn more in our video!

We're not squidding around – reef squid in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are truly inkredible!

We've proposed a new national marine sanctuary in Lake Ontario! Get to know the proposed area in our video. Learn how you can weigh in.

NOAA's national marine sanctuaries offers something for everyone, including recreational anglers! Did you know that you can fish in the majority of waters within national marine sanctuaries? Fishing Happens Here!

North Atlantic right whales are one of the world's most endangered ocean species. Learn what we and our partners are doing to protect them in our video.

Looking for fun and adventure this summer? Join us August 2-4 for Get Into Your Sanctuary days!

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is known for big charismatic animals like orcas and sea otters. But how much do you know about the smaller animals, like sea stars, that dwell here?

Have you ever seen a hermit crab carry a sea anemone around on its back?

Some 200 shipwrecks rest in the protected waters of NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. These wrecks tell stories of our Great Lakes maritime history. Today, get to know the tug W.G. Mason!

Sometimes members of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Buoy Team get to encounter wildlife on the job. No one expects a sea turtle to steal their tools, though!

Strange creatures live in the deep waters of your National Marine Sanctuary System! Check out this polychaete worm that researchers found in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is home to a variety of animals, including sea lions. Learn about these inquisitive creatures in our video!

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is well-known for animals like orcas and sea lions. But do you know the other animals that live there?

Along the California coastline not far from San Francisco, Bolinas Lagoon is a magical place for birders, wildlife watchers, paddlers, and more. Recently, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary has been working with partners to restore this special habitat so it can thrive and adapt to future changes.

Dive in to the majestic Molokini Crater in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary!

Did you know that some fish can "walk" along the seafloor? Meet the armored searobin!

Have you ever seen a gray seal while visiting your sanctuaries? Learn about this pinniped in our video!

Ever wonder what makes a wave a wave? Find out in our video!

Giant sea bass are at the top of the food web in the kelp forest ecosystem in places like Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Learn about these elusive behemoths in our video, and check out new research about this important species.

165 years ago this month, the passenger vessel Winfield Scott took a detour through what is now Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and collided with Anacapa Island. Learn what happened when the vessel started taking on water in our video.

You've heard of an octopus's garden - but have you ever seen one? Check out the many octopuses spotted in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by researchers with Nautilus Live this fall!

Bring some light to your week with the lighthouses of NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary!onal Marine Sanctuary Last year, researchers aboard the E/V Nautilus found a whale fall in the depths of NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Check it out in our video!

Is it the ocean or outer space? This cosmic jellyfish combines the best of both worlds!

Along the West Coast, lush jungles of giant kelp and bull kelp create habitat for everything from sea lions to juvenile fish. Do you know the differences between the two kelp species?

Take a dive into the deep at the wreck of Paul Palmer in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary!

Shipwrecks tell stories of our nation's maritime past. But did you know they also serve as an important habitat for all sorts of marine creatures?

Corals? In the Gulf of Mexico? It's true! Dive in with us to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and experience some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world.

When you think of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, do you picture coral reefs? While lush coral reefs form the backbone of the Keys, another ecosystem helps protect the coast – the tidal flat. Learn about these important tidal flats in our video!

What's so special about the deep sea, anyway?

An 800 pound fish? We're not making this up.

Want to be an ocean hero and help fight marine debris? Learn more about plastic pollution and how you can help in our video!

When boats ground in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, they can damage fragile ecosystems like seagrass beds and shallow banks. Learn how we and our partners work to restore these vital habitats in our video!

Do you know the difference between manta rays and mobulas? Learn how to tell them apart in our video!

Tour of the shipwreck Slobodna in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary!

Fly into the week with these cliff swallows in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary!

Our nation's first national marine sanctuary, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, protects a Civil War-era shipwreck off the coast of North Carolina. But resting on the seafloor about 240 feet below the surface, Monitor can be difficult to get to. Check out our Story from the Blue to learn how the sanctuary collaborated with artist Wayne White and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art to bring this shipwreck, and its story, to life.

Every August, the reef-building corals of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary put on a fantastic spawning display. It is one of the most abundant coral spawning displays in the entire Caribbean due to the high density cover of broadcast spawning species.

Papahānamokuākea Marine National Monument is the largest conservation area in the United States, protecting more than 582,000 square miles around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. But what exactly does its name mean, and how do you pronounce it?

"Every time my young song Luke says 'Dad, I want to go fishing, I watch to catch tarpon,' I'm reminded that I better to do my part now to make sure that that future is available to him." Watch our video to hear Volunteer of the Year Captain Will Benson's Story from the Blue. You can learn more about the Blue Star Fishing Guide program and support a sustainable Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

This Venus flytrap anemone may look like its terrestrial counterpart – but this deep-sea dweller is actually an animal, not a plant!

In the late 1800s, northern elephant seals were thought to be extinct after decades of extensive commercial hunting. But in the last century, these seals have made an amazing recovery! Today, you can see northern elephant seals throughout Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

These are not the droids you're looking for – they're hydroids! Learn about these odd invertebrates in our video.

Hawaiian monk seals are found throughout Hawai‘i, including in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. These endangered seals need our help! Learn what you can do in this video, and at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-seal.

Hannah MacDonald grew up with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in her backyard, and started volunteering with the sanctuary as a high school student. "For me, national marine sanctuaries are much more than protected underwater parks," she says. "It's the national marine sanctuaries that have changed my life and set me on a career path that I am super passionate about and I'm in love with." Watch our video to hear Hannah's Story from the Blue.

From the mountains to the sea, the ocean connects us all. Check out one example of this in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary!

Though it may look like a jellyfish, a ctenophore – or comb jelly – is something else entirely.

Off the shores of North Carolina, countless shipwrecks serve as graves for merchant mariners and service members who sailed them during World War I and other wars. Watch our video to learn how Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is working to preserve these wrecks and the legacy they represent. o find out more about the proposal to expand the sanctuary's boundaries to protect additional shipwrecks visit monitor.noaa.gov.

Have you ever seen a sea cucumber swim? The NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research spotted this one swimming around in the deep waters of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Check it out!

Looking for adventure this summer? It's the perfect time to Get Into Your Sanctuary!

Did you know that there are forests beneath the waves? Check out our video to learn why kelp forests are such important habitats!

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is just one office among many within the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. We work closely with many other offices, from research to marine debris cleanups! Find out how NOAA keeps our blue planet healthy in this video.

In sanctuaries, collaboration helps scientist get a holistic view of the ocean environment. Check out this video to see how scientists from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other organizations collaborate for a stronger sanctuary.

Sharks: scary? We think not! Check out our video to learn more about the crucial role sharks play in sanctuary ecosystems.

For surfer Todd Fischer, the Olympic Peninsula provides a bounty: "Mountains, trees, ocean, you name it. Anything you can do outdoors is here." Watch his Story from the Blue to learn why Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary makes for such an epic surf spot, and visit https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/visit/surfing.html to learn about some of the other surf spots throughout your sanctuaries.

What are microplastics and how can you prevent this threat to marine ecosystems? Find out in this video!

Protected by Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument the deep reefs of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands have the highes proportion of the endemism in the world!

In 2017, youth, educators and staff at 21st Century Community Learning Centers investigated their local watersheds during out-of-school time, thanks to a pilot program developed by NOAA, the U.S. Department of Education, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

A feel-good story for the end of your week -- check out this humpback whale breaching after being freed from entangling debris in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary!

In Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, you can snorkel, dive, paddle, and more -- all while exploring our nation's maritime history.

Did you know that there are sea turtles even in the cold waters of California's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary? Check out how researchers in the sanctuary and around the world are working to protect this magnificent endangered turtle -- and how you can help, too.

The Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary are bringing the world of cinema to northeast Michigan! From January 24 through 28, visitors to the sanctuary will be treated to some of the most impressive ocean and Great Lakes films from all around the world. Check out what's in store!

In September, Hurricane Irma roared over Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Since then, we've been working with partners to assess the damage and aid in recovery from the storm.

Roughly 95 percent of the ocean is still unexplored, and even parts of our national marine sanctuaries haven't yet been seen by human eyes. In 2014, researchers explored an area of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary called "The Football" for the first time. Check out what they found -- including new and unexpected species! -- in our video. You can learn more about this newly-documented area at farallones.noaa.gov/science/football.html.

Close out 2017 with a visit to each site of the National Marine Sanctuary System!

"The ocean, the land, the forest – everything goes hand-in-hand. That's what we like to pass on to our kids in the younger generations. To maintain our identity, that's the most important thing to us." Fu'ega Sa'ite Moliga captains a longboat for the annual fautasi races in National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Learn about the fautasi, and why Moliga dedicates himself to this crew, in our Story from the Blue.

In national marine sanctuaries, boats aren't just boats. They're platforms for research, foundations for partnerships, and homes for scientists and crew out on the water. Boats help sanctuaries function, and help us understand and investigate these amazing places. So what's it like to be on one of our boats? Get a taste through this timelapse video from a research expedition in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary aboard the R/V Manta.

This year, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary celebrates its 25th anniversary. To celebrate, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries director John Armor took a dive in the sanctuary. Find out what he thought of his first dive there!

Worn out at the end of a long week? Find some energy with these curious sea lions in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary!

How big are leatherback sea turtles? How do they swim? Find this out and more in this video about leatherbacks in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Why are sandlance, a tiny forage fish, so important in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary? Find out in this video by sanctuary volunteer and Emerson College student Casey Dalager!

This week, we celebrate our 45th anniversary! Take a trip back through our history and check out where we're headed in our video.

Barracudas are found throughout your National Marine Sanctuary System. Find out what makes them so special in our video!

What's a whale fall? Find out in our video of this whale fall found in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary!

From the surface, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary might not look too different from the rest of the ocean -- but beneath the waves, you'll find a vibrant reefscape. Find out what makes this Georgia reef so special, and how researchers work to better understand the ecosystem.

Today, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa protects a variety of environments throughout American Samoa. But this sanctuary started out as a tiny, quarter-mile protected area in Fagatele Bay. What makes Fagatele Bay so special? Find out in our video!

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary protects thriving, productive ecosystems that support all sorts of marine creatures -- including lobster. Check out our video to learn how the sanctuary and the NOAA Marine Debris Program are working with lobster fishermen to ensure lobster traps don’t endanger other species.

The historic Mallows Bay area of the Potomac River was nominated as a national marine sanctuary. Watch our video to learn about this amazing place!

Did you know there are thriving reefs off the coast of Georgia? Take a trip to Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

"My concern is that our people are not doing enough to take care of our ocean, our water, our marine life, and our island. In order for it to be healthy, we need to get the word out." Paula Stevenson McDonald is the owner of South Pacific Watersports in American Samoa. Watch our video to hear her Story from the Blue and how she and National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa create connections between people and the ocean.

In the depths of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa lives Big Momma, one of the largest coral heads in the world. What will you and your community do to help protect amazing corals like this one?

Looking for a summer adventure? Join us on Saturday, August 12 for events across the country in celebration of Get Into Your Sanctuary day!

Are you enjoying Shark Week? Researchers aboard the E/V Nautilus got a treat when they spotted this bluntnose sixgill shark in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Shipwrecks in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary hold the secrets of our maritime past. Discover the story of the SS Cuba in our video!

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is one of the best places in the world to see endangered blue whales. But these whales are also at risk from ship strikes. Watch our video to learn about a unique program that brought shipping companies, nonprofits, and government agencies together to solve this problem and help protect whales!

Last year, maritime archaeologists in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary investigated historical "doghole ports." These tiny ports got their names because sailors said they were so small, only a dog could turn around in them. A network of doghole ports supported a thriving lumber industry. Check out our video to discover what the archaeologists found!

"The manner in which we care for our land is going to be the manner in which the ocean is going to reflect that," explains Sol Kaho‘ohalahala. Sol is a seventh-generation resident of the island of Lāna‘i, which is surrounded by the waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Watch our video to hear his Story from the Blue.

The National Marine Sanctuary System honors America's past, serves the needs of today, and provides and defends for the future. It's a future that depends on these protected places -- learn more in our video!

During a joint NOAA - US Coast Guard remotely operated vehicle training mission in October 2016, we confirmed the historic remains of the USCG Cutter McCulloch off Point Conception, known as the "Cape Horn of the Pacific."

Several miles off the shore of Northern California lies an underwater gem: Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Watch our video to discover what makes this colorful habitat so lush.

Last year, a group of adventurous women -- including staff from Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary -- dived one historic site in each of the five Great Lakes in 24 hours. Watch our video to hear why they did it.

Peter Taliva'a is the boat captain for National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. To him, the sanctuary community is strong because "we work together. Not individually, but as a family." Watch our video to hear Peter's Story from the Blue.

Not all animals in national marine sanctuaries live in the water. Birds are among the most visible elements of biodiversity in the marine environment. By tracking bird populations, scientists can better understand the state and health of the marine ecosystems that our communities and economies depend on.

In sanctuaries like Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, you'll find extraordinary opportunities to observe wildlife -- like elephant seals!

"Why do I care? Because we want clean water here and we want vibrant life." Bruce Popham runs the Marathon Boat Yard Marine Center and is a member of the Sanctuary Advisory Council for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Check out his Story from the Blue to learn what the sanctuary means to him and how he is working to preserve the amazing ecosystems of the Florida Keys.

What lies in the deep waters of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa? This February, the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to find out. Check out some of what they found in our video!

What lies in the deep waters of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa? This February, the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to find out. Check out some of what they found in our video!

Celebrate Octopus Friday with this common octopus in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary!

Manta rays are frequent visitors to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary!

"Call nā po‘e ka lani, nā po‘e moana, nā po‘e ka hōnua -- the people of the heavens, the people of the ocean, and the people of the land, we're all just one big family in how we work together in preserving everything," says Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary volunteer Kimokeo Kapahulehua. Watch our video to hear Kimokeo's Kimokeo's story from the blue

Did you know mangroves line more than 1,800 miles of shoreline within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary? Learn what makes mangrove forests so special and important in our video.

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Lindsay Marks is fighting invasive species in and around Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary -- and you can help! Learn how in her video.

Happy Whale Week! National marine sanctuaries are safe havens for humpback whales. Each winter, thousands of humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to mate, calve, and raise their young, while each summer, others travel to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to feed. These whales can also be spotted in many sanctuaries in between! These protected areas are spectacular places to whale watch -- but always be sure to give the whales plenty of space. Learn more: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/protect/oceanetiquette.html

Take a trip to the mangroves of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary! Our outreach team recently spent a day photographing wildlife in the sanctuary's mangrove forests. Mangroves like these stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides, while also providing food and shelter to many species.

How much do you know about biodiversity in your national marine sanctuaries?

How do scientists in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary tag humpback whales? Very carefully! Attached temporarily with suction cups, these tags help researchers understand where whales are going and what sounds they're making.

Each year, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary brings the world of cinema to the shores of Lake Huron! Check out the Thunder Bay International Film Festival trailer here, then check out the festival details. The festival January 20-29!

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is home to 29 species of marine mammal -- including the sea lion!

How did you spend your holidays? Each year, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary teams up with the Audubon Society for the Stellwagen Bank Christmas Bird Count. Christmas Bird Count volunteers join sanctuary staff onboard the R/V Auk to survey a 15-mile-diameter area of the sanctuary. The data they collect can help assess the health of bird populations and of the sanctuary ecosystem. This year, citizen scientists counted triple the number of razorbills as last year's cruise, but spotted no northern fulmars or shearwaters, which are normally encountered in the sanctuary this time of year. They even spotted four tiny Atlantic puffins! Check out our video of a past Christmas Bird Count to learn more about this ongoing citizen science project.

As the year comes to a close, join us in celebrating the amazing sites of your National Marine Sanctuary System! What's your favorite ocean or Great Lakes memory from this year?

Indigenous tribes like the Quinault Indian Nation have depended on the ocean for millennia. Today, species like the razor clam provide Quinault members with sustenance and income. Watch our video to hear this Quinault Story from the Blue and to learn how Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary helps support culturally-important ecosystems!

Already thinking ahead to warmer summer days? Take a virtual diving trip to Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary!

How do you record the ocean soundtrack? With a hydrophone! Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Jenni Stanley has been deploying hydrophones at several national marine sanctuaries in order to characterize their soundscapes. Learn more in our video!

Do sharks always rule the seas? Think again! In places like Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, it's not always predators that come out on top.

Nancy Foster Scholar Emily Aiken explains that through the scholarship and working with national marine sanctuaries, "I have the opportunity now to fully engage and reach my full potential -- and that has been incredible to experience." Check out our video to learn about Emily's Story from the Blue. Are you a graduate student in ocean sciences? Learn about the Nancy Foster Scholarship at fosterscholars.noaa.gov -- the application period is currently open!

Earlier this fall, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary joined students from Alcona Elementary School for the 2016 International Coastal Cleanup. Check out our video to learn how the sanctuary is working with the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative to teach students the importance of keeping the Great Lakes clean!

Start your weekend off right with a tour of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary!

Recently, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Reverb teamed up to show Guster what makes Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary so amazing. Check out our video to learn about the incredible whale watching opportunities the sanctuary's rich ecosystem supports, and how you can visit the sanctuary without even getting wet at the New England Aquarium!

The ocean covers approximately 70% of Earth's surface, and we all depend on it for everything from our climate and weather to the air we breathe. With that in mind, two years ago we launched Earth Is Blue, a celebration of the special ocean and Great Lakes places protected by the National Marine Sanctuary System. Check out some of the coolest clips from this year's videos! We can't wait to see what comes next.

This summer, Nancy Foster Scholarship alumna Dr. Nyssa Silbiger and her colleague Piper Wallingford researched the impacts of climate change on tidal ecosystems in several West Coast national marine sanctuaries. Key to their research was their mobile lab, the Bio Bus! Check out our video to learn about their adventures and research in national marine sanctuaries, and learn more about how you can become a Nancy Foster Scholar here!

Through his "Shipwreck Alley" class, high school teacher John Caplis has been connecting Alpena High School students directly to the nearby Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and through it, to Great Lakes history, ecology, geology, meteorology and more. "The idea that we're exposing two-thirds of every kid who graduates from Alpena High School to Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and its mission and the positive effect it has on the community -- I think that's a powerful thing," he says. Watch our video to experience John's Story from the Blue and to learn about the amazing educational collaboration his class has fostered.

Since 2002, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has received more than 100 confirmed reports of entangled humpback whales, representing at least 70 animals. So how do experts at the sanctuary disentangle these enormous animals? Very carefully, and without getting in the water. Learn more here.

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary superintendent Carol Bernthal first visited the Washington coast as a teenager. "I just remember walking out onto this point and looking out at the ocean and being overwhelmed by the power and the history of this place," she says. That moment inspired her, and today, Carol dedicates herself to protecting this amazing national marine sanctuary. Watch our video to experience her Story from the Blue. What special ocean places have inspired you?

Dive into Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and experience the underwater treasures of this amazing marine protected area!

How can archaeologists chart a World War II battlefield resting 700 feet down on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean? Maritime archaeologists from Monitor National Marine Sanctuary recently teamed up with the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Project Baseline, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the UNC Coastal Studies Institute and SRI International to use manned submersibles to survey shipwrecks from a World War II battlefield off the coast of North Carolina. Check out what they found in our video!

Prognathodes basabei is a newly-described species of butterflyfish found in the deep reefs of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Check out our video to catch a glimpse of this new fish! Learn more here.

What's a sea nettle? Learn about these Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary dwellers in our video!

In February and March of 2016, NOAA and partners conducted an expedition to explore deep waters in and around Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Using the high-definition camera's on NOAA's Deep Discoverer remotely operated vehicle, scientists captured imagery of deep-sea biology and geology at depths ranging from 2,130 feet to 2.7 miles (650 - 4,300 meters) that had never been seen before. 

On August 26, 2016, President Obama expanded the monument by 442,781 square miles, bringing the total protected area to 582,578 square miles and making it the world's largest marine protected area.  Portions of the video originally filmed outside of Monument boundaries are now protected.

This expedition is part of a three-year effort to gain basic knowledge about the largely unknown marine protected areas in the Pacific. The combined information gained during this effort will help managers to better understand, and therefore protect, these special places.

Video courtesy of NOAA; produced by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration.

Mooring buoys help protect fragile ecosystems in places like Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary by reducing the need for boats to drop anchor. But who maintains the sanctuary's vast collection of buoys? Meet the Florida Keys buoy team!

How do national marine sanctuaries protect maritime heritage resources like historic shipwrecks? Find out in this week's Earth Is Blue video. Thanks to NOAA Ocean Today for sharing it with us!

Recently, scientists from Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary dove into the sanctuary to conduct a variety of research activities. Check out some of what they saw in our video and on their site.

"Science is our measuring stick to figure out if our legends are true," explains Hanohano Na'ehu of Hui o Kuapā - Keawanui Fishpond in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. And by collaborating with scientists, Hanohano is confirming the stories that native Hawaiians have used for generations to guide how they care for nature and interact with the environment. Watch our video to hear Hanohano's Stories from the Blue!

Have you gotten into your sanctuary this summer? In June, in honor of our national Get Into Your Sanctuary celebration, nine Blue Star certified dive charter operators led underwater clean-ups throughout Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Together, the shops collected hundreds of pounds of marine debris! Many thanks to Rainbow Reef Dive Center for sharing their video of their cleanup efforts with us -- and for their dedication to keeping the Florida Keys healthy! (Videography & editing: Logan Campbell)

The wreck of the historic USS Monitor rests 240 feet beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in Monitor National Marine Sanctuary -- so visiting it isn't exactly easy. Fortunately, there are many places that offer the opportunity to discover the wonders of this great ship without getting your feet wet! Check out the USS Monitor Center, located at The Mariners' Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia, in our video.

Nudibranchs may look something out of a science fiction movie, but they're actually closely related to snails! Find out more about these colorful creatures in our video.

Safe haven for marine animals, or perfect place to catch a wave? Both! National marine sanctuaries like Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary protect hundreds of marine species -- and they're also perfect spots for responsible recreation. For Joe Green, ukulele craftsman and owner of Surf n Sea in O'ahu, the sanctuary protects important surf spots. Check out our video to learn more!

National marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments are the heart of many human communities, from native communities that have depended on the ocean for centuries and continue to do so, to vacationers who dive into sanctuary waters and surf their waves, to scientists and researchers who explore the ocean's depths. Join us each month as we tell stories from the blue celebrating the people at the center of national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/stories. This month, we tell the story of Nathaniel Linville, owner of The Angling Company in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary!

Many national marine sanctuaries are far offshore, but onshore exhibits around the country make it possible to get to know these special places without getting wet! Check out our video to learn about the partnership between Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the Oakland Museum of California. Will you be visiting one of these exhibits soon?

Big news: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has proposed an expansion of its boundaries! Learn more about the proposed expansion in our video and find out how to comment on the proposal at flowergarden.noaa.gov/management/expansiondeis.htm