Stories
The Foundation Blog
Stories from the National Marine Sanctuary System — conservation, science, community, and the people who care for America's public waters.
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243 posts · showing 121–144
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Sea Wonder: Common Snapping Turtle
The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is a species of freshwater turtle that spends most of its life in the water.
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Restore our Blue Planet: Building Back Bluer in our National Marine Sanctuaries
Earth Day 2021 celebrates restoring our Earth. Globally, scientists estimate we have lost between one-third to one-half of vulnerable marine habitats. The United Nations declared 2021–2030 the “decade of restoration” to scale up efforts to build resilience to climate and anthropogenic change and reverse biodiversity loss. America’s ocean covers almost 4.5 million square miles, an […]
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Limestone Legends: The Story of Three Thunder Bay Shipwrecks
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron is a history buff’s paradise. It protects nearly 100 historic shipwrecks within its boundaries, with many others beneath the Lake’s surface. The area is known famously as Shipwreck Alley due to the numerous wrecks that occurred due to poor visibility, rough waters, and shallow areas. The lake’s […]
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Marine Debris: Taking Matters into Your Own Hands
Trash piled up on the beach in Oahu off the waters of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA Each year, billions of pounds of trash and chemical pollutants enter the ocean, changing the ocean’s chemistry, harming wildlife, and reducing the quality of beaches and other habitats that are far away from […]
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Sea Wonder: Spotted Porcupinefish
The spotted porcupinefish has a few nicknames, including spot-fin porcupinefish, black-spotted porcupinefish, or simply, porcupinefish
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Kelp Forest Restoration & Recovery in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
By Rietta Hohman, Greater Farallones Association, NOAA Affiliate Coordinator of the Greater Farallones Kelp Recovery Program Fort Ross Coastline, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Abby Nickels/Greater Farallones Association Along coastlines around the globe where cold, nutrient-rich water moves up to the surface from the deep, lush forests of kelp thrive. Kelp forests are similar to […]
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Sea Wonder: Western Gull
Western Gull perched on Anacapa Islands within Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robert Schwemmer We might not think of birds as important parts of marine ecosystems, but these migratory marvels keep food webs in balance, bring nutrients to islands and other areas, and serve as sentinels of the sea – giving us clues about […]
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Sea Wonder: Trumpetfish
Trumpetfish swimming in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Beata Lerman Strike up the band for this unmistakable reef fish! It’s none other than trumpetfish (family Aulostomus), three species of long fishes with trumpet-like bodies. Unfortunately, they can’t play us any of Louis Armstrong’s greatest hits, but they are beautiful and quite the sight to […]
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Sea Wonder: Sandbar Shark
Sandbar shark swimming over Stetson Bank in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: G.P. Schmahl/NOAA The sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) is the most abundant species of shark in the western Atlantic Ocean, though it can be quite elusive and is rarely spotted at the water’s surface. It is one of 60 species of requiem […]
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Discover our History: Diving in our National Marine Sanctuaries
America’s national marine sanctuaries are home to an incredible variety of ocean life: gentle giants, microscopic plankton, vibrant habitats, and more. However, many people are surprised to learn that these wondrous places also protect and preserve significant cultural artifacts from throughout our nation’s history. For SCUBA divers, the sites of shipwrecks, downed planes, and other […]
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Blue Beacon Series Celebrates the 80th Anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen
Our nation’s maritime heritage defines who we are. From shipwrecks to cultural artifacts, the underwater sites we preserve reflect our identity, history, and shared values. Yet our heritage also reflects our blind spots. The stories we tell and the places we treasure speak volumes not only about what we most hold dear but also about […]
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Sea Wonder: Cabezon
A Cabezon resting on a ledge at Dali’s Wall (near Pebble Beach) within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This dive was conducted as part of the REEF expedition in Monterey, CA. Photo: Chad King/NOAA Cabezon means large head in Spanish, and the cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratu) is a fish aptly named for its distinctly large head […]
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Sea Wonder: Common Octopus
The common octopus may be one of the most studied and wide-ranging species of octopus in the ocean, but it is far from being ordinary.
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Sea Wonder: Green Heron
Green Heron at Forest Park. Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren The green heron (Butorides virescens) is a commonly seen, small but stockym, wading bird in North and Central America. From afar, their remarkable colors might be hard to see, but their red and gray feathers and iridescent green back and crown are most striking […]
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Sea Wonder: California Sea Lion
The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is one of the most well-known species of pinnipeds in the world.
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2021 Blue Beacon Series Celebrates Protecting Our Great Waters and Cultural Heritage
This year, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Blue Beacon Series will focus on the role of people as stewards of our blue planet. We hope you join us to discover what lies beneath the waves and how working together, we can protect our rich cultural and natural heritage. As with the Blue Beacon Series events […]
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Sea Wonder: Loggerhead Turtle
This loggerhead sea turtle was handing around the wreck of the tanker Ashkhabad. The Ashkhabad was sunk by a German U-boat during World War II and now rests in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Ashkhabad is one ship that could be protected by an expanded Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: NOAA Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), […]
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Sea Wonder: Bat Star
These scavengers play vital roles in their ecosystems by cleaning algae and decaying animal tissue from the ocean floor.
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The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Duane: A Historic Ship and Artificial Reef
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Duane at Sea. Photo by: USCG An estimated 1,000 shipwrecks lie in the sandy shallows near the Florida Keys, each with its own story to tell. One such wreck is that of the Duane, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter built in 1936. The Duane was sunk in 1987 by the Keys […]
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Iconic Species that Roadtrip in our National Marine Sanctuaries
Imagine walking thousands of miles to get to your winter vacation destination instead of taking a plane, train, or automobile. It might sound exhausting to you, but this is what life is like for migratory animals that make seasonal trips between their summer and winter habitats. Here are some of the most exceptional migrations that […]
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Sea Wonder: Southern Stingray
Southern stingrays are cartilaginous fishes that are relatives of sharks and skates and spend most of their lives along the ocean floor.
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Ringing in the Holidays with a Blue Beacon Celebration of the Christmas Tree Ship
Credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Master Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf At a time when many traditional holiday plans have been cancelled, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation provided some needed holiday spirit last Saturday by hosting a virtual event highlighting the tale of the Rouse Simmons – also known as the Christmas Tree Ship. […]
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Porpoise vs Dolphin | Sea Creatures | Marine Conservation
While both dolphins and porpoises belong to the order cetacea, they are actually very different sea creatures! Read here to learn more.
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Sea Wonder: Risso’s Dolphin
Risso’s Dolphin spotted in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robert Schwemmer Sometimes called gray dolphins, the Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) is part of a subfamily of whales called blackfish, which includes false killer whales, pilot whales, pygmy killer whales, and melon-headed whales. They don’t have the long beaks we usually associate with dolphins, they […]