Stories
The Foundation Blog
Stories from the National Marine Sanctuary System — conservation, science, community, and the people who care for America's public waters.
All stories
243 posts · showing 73–96
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Thank You, Ocean: A Message from our President and CEO
Photo credit: Michael Schilling Dear Friends, My message this year is simple: Thank you, ocean. Early this year, I lost one of the most significant people in my life, my mom. She was a force of nature. She always believed there was more work to be done to make this a just world. My mom […]
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50 Years of Ocean & Coastal Conservation: National Marine Sanctuaries Act
In 1972, the United States enacted a wave of landmark legislation to protect and sustain the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, including the amendments to the Clean Water Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act,
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SUNY Geneseo Students Dive Into the Deep Sea with NOAA Ocean Exploration
The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of SUNY Geneseo is one of seven recipients of an Ocean Exploration Education Mini-Grant from NOAA Ocean Exploration and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (The Foundation). The project, spearheaded by SUNY Geneseo Assistant Professor, Mackenzie Gerringer, Ph.D., was a multi-part project designed to […]
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Behind the Seams: From Pencil to Print with Reyn Spooner
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries are proud to partner with Reyn Spooner to create a commemorative Aloha shirt in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. These shirts will help raise awareness of the Save Spectacular anniversary celebration and directly support the National Marine […]
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South Dakota Teachers Take a Road Trip to the California Coast to Bring Ocean Literacy Back to Students in the Great Plains
Spencer Cody, a secondary school teacher in Edmunds Central School District in South Dakota, was the recipient of an Ocean Exploration Education grant from NOAA Ocean Exploration and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation designed to build capacity for ocean literacy and science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce development. His proposal, titled ‘The Great Plains Ocean […]
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Sea Wonder: Kelp Crab
A kelp crab in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo credit: Chad King Aptly named for its favorite habitat, kelp crabs (Pugettia producta and Pugettia gracilis) are part of a group known as spider crabs. They are omnivorous and play an important role in maintaining the health of kelp and creating balance in their ecosystems. […]
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Blue Beacon: Marine Sanctuaries & Gulf Restoration
A mesophotic coral reef in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo taken during a remotely-operated vehicle dive under research permit #FGBNMS-2022-005. Credit: NOAA/MARE Written by Kelly Martin, NOAA Program Analyst, serving as the Project Manager for the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities Active Management and Protection project While national marine sanctuaries and other designated marine protected […]
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Life In The Intertidal
You can experience some of the ocean’s most fascinating ecosystems firsthand without ever getting in the water. Learn more here!
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Stories Behind the Stamps
These national marine sanctuary themed stamps highlight the beauty found across all 16 national marine sanctuaries and monuments.
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Valor In The Atlantic: Returning to Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
A sea turtle sneaks into view of the USS Monitor’s bow during the Valor in the Atlantic Expedition. (Credit: GFOE/NOAA) Written by Mark Losavio, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Media/Outreach Coordinator 2022 is a big year for your National Marine Sanctuary System! Not only are we celebrating 50 years of Sanctuaries but one in particular is […]
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Summer in the Sanctuaries
Photo Credit: Kendra Chan Summertime in the Northern Hemisphere brings with it the longest and warmest days of the year. The season is associated with beach trips and pool days, cool treats, and time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Throughout the summer months, activity is quite high across the National Marine […]
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Star-Spangled Marine Sanctuaries: 4 Ways to Celebrate This July 4th
For millions of Americans, the Fourth of July is synonymous with spending time outside and on the water, and it’s easy to see why. Across our 18 national marine sanctuaries, America’s public waters are home to many of the world’s most spectacular seascapes, unique wildlife, and archaeological treasures. Our resplendent coastlines and rich maritime heritage […]
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Pride In The Ocean: Q&A with Lyndsey Claassen
Written by Lyndsey Claassen (They/Them); Logistics Intern at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and Master’s student at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories How is your work connected to national marine sanctuaries? Photo credit: Lyndsey Claassen My thesis work uses Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) data in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) […]
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The Elusive Flat Abalone: Few & Far Between
By: Oriana Poindexter, Founder & Principal, Pelagic Projects This blog is the fifth in a series, The Iridescent Ones: Visualizing California’s Abalone. Read part one of this blog series, Extreme Tidepooling for Black Abalone on California’s Central Coast, in which Oriana goes searching for black abalone. Part two of this blog series, Scuba Diving for White […]
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50 Years of Ocean & Coastal Conservation: Coastal Zone Management Act
Photo credit: Christina Ford In 1972, the United States enacted a wave of landmark legislation to protect and sustain the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, including the amendments to the Clean Water Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. These Acts fundamentally changed […]
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50 Years of Ocean & Coastal Conservation: Marine Mammal Protection Act
A humpback whale breaching in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo credit: Bob Talbot In 1972, the United States enacted a wave of landmark legislation to protect and sustain the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, including the amendments to the Clean Water Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and the […]
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50 Years of Ocean & Coastal Conservation: Clean Water Act
Kids swimming in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Photo credit: David J. Ruck/NOAA In 1972, the United States enacted a wave of landmark legislation to protect and sustain the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, including the amendments to the Clean Water Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and […]
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Sea Wonder: Giant Trevally
The giant trevally (Carnax ignobilis) is a large, marine fish that is a member of the jack family and the largest of all the trevally fishes.
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Sea Wonder: Horseshoe Crab
Named for its rounded and u-shaped head, the horseshoe crab is just one species of horseshoe crabs that call the ocean and coasts home.
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Spring in the Sanctuaries
Photo credit: NOAA Spring has sprung in the Northern hemisphere! It’s a season of renewal, change, and longer, warmer days. While flowers bloom on land, some incredible but less obvious changes happen in the ocean. Let’s dive into some of the spectacular natural events that occur throughout America’s National Marine Sanctuary System this season: Photo […]
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Sea Wonder: Giant Green Anemone
Their name is a little misleading because giant green anemones only measure to be about seven to 12 inches in diameter and about a foot tall.
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Black History Month: Tuskegee Airmen
For decades, African Americans fought for greater roles in the U.S. military, but quotas, exclusionary practices, racial discrimination and prevailing attitudes limited their participation. As a result of political pressure from the Black press, civil rights groups, and historically Black colleges and universities, the Tuskegee Aviation Experience was launched in 1941. The Tuskegee Aviation Experience […]
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Sea Wonder: Leather Sea Star
Smooth, slippery, and slimy to the touch, leather sea stars are named for the texture of their skin, which feels like wet leather!
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Sea Wonder: Christmas Shearwater
Photo credit: Duncan Named not for the holiday but for Christmas Island (now known as Kritimati), close to the Equator and south of the Hawaiian Islands, Christmas Shearwaters nest on remote islands in the Pacific and are often seen by boats sailing from the Hawaiian Islands. They are called ‘ao’ū in native Hawaiian. Description The Christmas Shearwater […]