Underwater Nurseries
Swim through a kelp forest, over a seagrass bed, among mangroves, or along a reef, and you'll find all sorts of tiny creatures. These areas act as nurseries, providing safe harbor for young animals. By protecting the areas where fish, sea turtles, invertebrates, and more begin their lives, national marine sanctuaries ensure the continued vitality of ecosystems within and beyond sanctuaries.
Baby green sea turtles, or honu in Hawaiian, swim through the waves in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Photo: Koa Matsuoka
Orcas, Monterey Bay NMS. Photo: Douglas Croft
Laysan albatross, Papahānaumokuākea MNM. Photo: Naomi Blinick/USFWS
Blue angelfish, Gray's Reef NMS. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Green heron, Florida Keys NMS. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Northern elephant seal, Monterey Bay NMS. Photo: Douglas Croft
Humpback whales, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NMS. Photo: J. Moore/NOAA, under NOAA Permit #15240
Kelp bass, Channel Islands NMS. Photo: Stuart Halewood
Vampire squid, Monterey Bay NMS. Photo: NOAA/MBARI
Squid, Greater Farallones NMS. Photo: NOAA/PointBlue/ACCESS
Rockfish, Channel Islands NMS. Photo: Stuart Halewood
Goldentail moray eel, Flower Garden Banks NMS. Photo: Steve Miller
Cubbyu, Gray's Reef NMS. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Laysan ducks, Papahānaumokuākea. Photo: Naomi Worcester/Hawai'i DLNR
Cocoa damselfish, Gray's Reef NMS. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
Giant Pacific octopus, Monterey Bay NMS. Photo: Taylor Eddy
Lobster eggs, Stellwagen Bank NMS. Photo: NOAA
Pinto abalone, Monterey Bay NMS. Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA
Wolf eel, Monterey Bay NMS. Photo: Michelle Manson
North Atlantic right whale, Gray's Reef NMS. Photo: Georgia DNR
Hawaiian monk seal, Papahānaumokuākea MNM. Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA