Webinar Series

The National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series provides educators, students, and the interested public with educational and scientific expertise, resources and training to support ocean and climate literacy. This series generally targets formal and informal educators that are engaging students (elementary through college) in formal classroom settings, as well as members of the community in informal educational venues (e.g. after school programs, science centers, aquariums, etc.). However, the series is open to anyone interested in the topics listed below.

For distance learning programs about marine mammals and other protected species in the wild, please visit our Wildlife Viewing Guidelines and the NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources' Marine Life Viewing Guidelines to ensure you are aware of the regulations.

Upcoming Webinars

From left to right: A young female scientist; many fish swimming under a kelp forest canopy; a female scientist holding a bucket with a small fish; and a white seabass in the ocean.

Fishy Love Songs: Eavesdropping on Fish Chorusing in California National Marine Sanctuaries

December 9, 2025 at 1 pm Hawaii / 3 pm Pacific / 5 pm Central / 6 pm Eastern

Ella Bea Kim, PhD Candidate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar

The iconic deep bass of whale song and high frequency echolocation clicks of dolphins are familiar to many, yet few know of the croaking and drumming of fish. Fish chorusing is when many, usually male fish, produce sound together, often for mating purposes. By eavesdropping on fish sounds, we can better understand which, where, when, and how fish reproduce, and use this knowledge to protect important fishes and habitats. Join PhD candidate, Ella Kim, as she shares about all we can learn when we listen to fish!

2025 Ed Ricketts Memorial Award and Lecture: Searching for Lost Sharks

December 10, 2025 from 6:30-8:00 pm Pacific

In Person at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz, California starting at 6:00 pm and Remotely via Webinar at 6:30 pm

The 2025 Ricketts Award recipient Dr. David A. Ebert (Pacific Shark Research Center / Moss Landing Marine Laboratories / San Jose State University) is known as the Lost Shark Guy for spearheading a global effort to find and discover little-known and unknown sharks. Dr. Ebert will provide a presentation on how the movie "Jaws" gave birth to the modern field of shark science, conservation, and education.

The Ed Ricketts Memorial Award was created to honor scientists who have exhibited exemplary work throughout their career and advanced knowledge, appreciation, conservation and/or protection of the marine environment. Recipients are selected by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Research Activity Panel.

For lecture abstract and history of the Ed Ricketts Memorial Award, please visit this website.

From left to right: The first photograph shows A young female naturalist, smiling and looking up towards the left. In the background, there is a grassy hill and a body of water under a light blue sky. The second photograph captures a humpback whale breaching out of the water. The whale's body is mostly out of the ocean, with water splashing around it. The third photograph is a close-up of a humpback whale's head and part of its body just below the water's surface. The whale's skin appears rough and mottled, with barnacles or other growths visible. The fourth photograph shows a humpback whale's tail flukes as they dip into the water, creating ripples.

Whales, Wonder, and the Santa Barbara Channel: How Whale Heritage Areas Inspire Conservation and Care

January 13, 2026 at 1 pm Hawaii / 3 pm Pacific / 5 pm Central / 6 pm Eastern

Holly Lohuis, Marine biologist, naturalist and Co-Director of the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area

Join marine biologist, naturalist, and Co-Director of the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area, Holly Lohuis, as she shares stories of the diversity of whales that feed and travel through the Santa Barbara Channel and the waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Through the lens of the Whale Heritage Area designation, discover how responsible tourism, community engagement, and education play a vital role in protecting whales and fostering a deeper connection to our ocean.