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 1–24
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CHOW Chat: Cathy Green on Maritime History and Heritage
The Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2026 theme “Voyages & Breakthroughs” showcases the cutting-edge advancements and emerging leaders that are shaping the future of ocean stewardship, and spotlights transformative change across science, culture and heritage, resiliency, and innovation. As we sail into the future, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation honors the earliest stewards of our waters and charts the […]
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Bringing Gray’s Reef to the People in Savannah
By Joel R. Johnson, President & CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Standing in downtown Savannah at the grand reopening of the Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center, I was reminded how powerful it can be when the ocean comes to the people. Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary lies about 20 miles offshore—a remarkable underwater […]
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Heavy Lifting: Marine Debris Removal in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Photo credit: Sierra Sarkis/NCCOS Every successful field mission requires planning, teamwork, and the ability to adapt. These three qualities were on display during a recent expedition in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, where a multifaceted group of partners came together to remove about 1,700 pounds of marine debris from the seafloor. It was a […]
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Marine Manners 101
Our marine sanctuaries are for everyone to enjoy and explore, with most of these public waters open to sustainable activities such as fishing, diving, paddling, and wildlife watching! By being good guests to these national treasures and enjoying them responsibly, we can preserve and protect them as travel destinations for future generations. Here are […]
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Conservationists, Blue Tech Innovators, and Engineers Combine to Save Corals
Members of the winning University of Miami team: Danielle Bejar, Montale Tuen, Kylee Rux, and Josh Prabahar (not pictured). Photo credit: Tiffany Duong/Ocean Rebels What happens when coral conservationists, Blue Tech innovators, and engineering students walk into a workshop together? For a Sanctuary Solutions Series event, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation hosted a Coral Reef […]
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CHOW Plenary Deep Dive: Emerging Ocean Economies: Innovation Driving Conservation Outcomes
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the marine economy accounted for $432 billion of US GDP in 2021, with a 7.4% growth over 2020 that outpaced the national economy. This multi-billion-dollar marine recreation and coastal tourism sector is powered by millions of recreational and commercial anglers, boaters, businesses, technologists, and coastal communities whose […]
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CHOW Chat: Mark Huang on Innovation for Resiliency
The Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2025 program spotlights the next wave of transformative change across science, culture and heritage, resiliency, and innovation. Together, we will explore and connect with the pioneering individuals and initiatives that are leading the charge in protecting and transforming the future of our ocean and Great Lakes. Mark Huang is a […]
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Putting Gear to the Test: Helping Fishers Adapt Through Innovation
Marine debris and fishing gear entanglement are serious threats to whales, sea turtles, and other protected marine life—many of which live in our national marine sanctuaries. Entanglement typically occurs when an animal becomes caught in vertical lines–ropes that connect surface buoys to traps or pots on the seafloor, such as those used in lobster and […]
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Community Leaders Speak Up for Marine Sanctuaries on Capitol Hill
During the first week of April, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation asked community leaders from across the country to “fly-in” to DC and meet with their elected officials to share the impact marine sanctuaries have on their lives, the
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A Love Letter to our National Marine Sanctuary System Staff
To those we’ve served alongside, followed and have met during our work, we are in solidarity with you and you have our enduring appreciation.
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Black History Month: African American Sailors Aboard the USS Monitor
Crew of the USS Monitor, July 9, 1862. Siah Hulett Carter is the front, seated, right sailor. Photo credit: The Mariners’ Museum and Park. When the Civil War began, many enslaved African Americans wanted to join the Union forces. Since at the time, enslaved people were considered “property” under the law, Union leaders were able […]
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Thank you for helping us keep wonder running deep
This year, our community of ocean protectors and sanctuary stewards powered our work to protect our ocean, Great Lakes, and waterways. On behalf of everyone at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, our President and CEO, Joel Johnson, recorded a special message of thanks to share with you in this season of gratitude.
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Scientists Discover World’s Largest Coral in the Solomon Islands
Photo credit: National Geographic Pristine Seas Scientists discovered the largest known coral in the world on a National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition to study ocean health in the Solomon Islands. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation awarded National Geographic Pristine Seas the Conservation Innovation Award at Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2024, which recognizes “a company or […]
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Neah Bay is finally free of decades-old debris
The bridge pontoon, a remnant of an old construction project that was once a temporary section of Interstate-90 near Seattle, had been in Neah Bay for 30 years. The fifteen broken down and derelict vessels have been abandoned and accumulated in the Makah Marina in the time since. Those pieces of large marine debris finally […]
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Youth Leadership and Activism for Ocean Equity on Instagram for National Marine Sanctuary Day
Get ready to dive deep on October 23rd—National Marine Sanctuary Day! Join us in celebrating the vibrant wonders of our protected waters and the vital work behind marine conservation. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (@marinesanctuaryfdn) is hosting an Instagram Live panel you won’t want to miss! This dynamic event will spotlight young, trailblazing leaders who […]
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It’s a Clean, Clean Summer – Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys – a Summer in Review
It’s a Clean, Clean Summer – Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys – a Summer in Review It’s a Clean, Clean Summer – Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys – a Summer in Review Photo credit: Kurt Tidd Written by: Cortney Benson, Marine Debris Removal Stewardship Coordinator at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Adding to our outstanding […]
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Embracing My Roots: How My Heritage Inspires Me to Create Change
Written by: Maria Emilia Cortez-Torres (Emely), Bilingual Education Specialist at the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Exploration Center, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Growing up as a Mexican-
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Whales in Motion in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Written by: Terry Wolkowicz, Education Director and Dr. David MacKenzie, Music Director, Sound Explorations In partnership with Dr. David Wiley, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Ecologist and Research Coordinator at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, David MacKenzie and Terry Wolkowicz, two music educators who co-founded the educational nonprofit Sound Explorations, were asked to […]
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Leaders make waves at Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2024
For the past three years, Capitol Hill Ocean Week has focused on the most pressing issues facing our blue planet: systemic inequities, biodiversity loss, and climate change. This year, Capitol Ocean Week 2024 shone a spotlight on servant leaders from all walks of life working to confront these challenges and center people at the core […]
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Pride In The Ocean: JD Reinbott
Photo credit: Vinh Pham JD Reinbott (he/him), Iconic Reef Guardians Stewardship Coordinator, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation How is your work connected to national marine sanctuaries? In my role as the Iconic Reef Guardians Stewardship Coordinator for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, I work within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to help protect and preserve Florida’s […]
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Pride In The Ocean: Kate Sutter Insley
Photo credit: Kate Sutter Insley Kate Sutter Insley (she/her), Senior Community Manager, Only One and World Ocean Day Community Engagement Lead How is your work connected to national marine sanctuaries? I work on the comms side of ocean conservation and well, everything ocean is always connected. More directly, I help lead creative strategy on campaigns […]
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CHOW Plenary Deep Dive: The Path Forward for Responsible Offshore Energy
To confront the challenges of the global climate crisis, we must look to the ocean as a source of climate solutions and think smarter about renewable energy sources like wind energy and how to make them more abundant, affordable, accessible, and equitable. Today, almost 40% of all carbon dioxide pollution comes from burning fossil fuels […]
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CHOW Chat: Emira Woods on Lifting Up Diverse Leaders
The Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2024 program calls upon leaders from all walks of life to come together to drive attention and innovation to protect our ocean and center people at the core of ocean solutions. Together, we will explore international, national, and local communities and the traditional and new ways they are adapting to a […]
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CHOW Chat: Dylan McDowell on Bridging the Gap Between Science and Policy
Photo credit: Dylan McDowell The Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2024 program calls upon leaders from all walks of life to come together to drive attention and innovation to protect our ocean and center people at the core of ocean solutions. Together, we will explore international, national, and local communities and the traditional and new ways they […]