noaasanctuaries

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US National Marine Sanctuaries

NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries protect our underwater treasures, covering more than 600,000 square miles from the Florida Keys to American Samoa. sanctuaries.noaa.gov
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Keep that chin up! California sea lions are found in many #WestCoast national marine sanctuaries, including #CordellBank National Marine Sanctuary, where this one was photographed. These sea lions spend several days at a time at sea, diving almost continuously and only resting briefly at the surface. Gregarious creatures, California sea lions often form dense groups while ashore. #EarthIsBlue #SeaLion #CaliforniaSeaLion #Pinniped #Ocean #California (Photo: Mojoscoast/NOAA)
When is a #shipwreck more than a shipwreck? When it's an artificial reef! Historic shipwrecks are protected by national marine sanctuaries for a number of reasons: they serve as living museums to teach visitors about the past; they tell the stories of their times, especially those of the people who lived, sailed, and died on them; and often, they are memorials to those who were lost on them. In many cases, too, they harbor new life, serving as artificial reefs that attract invertebrates, fish, and other marine animals. U-85, pictured here, is one such wreck, and could be protected by an expanded #Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. #EarthIsBlue #History #Ocean #Archaeology #Reef #ArtificialReef #Uboat (Photo: Steve Sellers/NOAA)
What're you looking at? California's state marine fish, the #garibaldi, lives in the rocky reefs and kelp forests of #ChannelIslands National Marine Sanctuary. Garibaldis are highly territorial and will fend off larger fish and even divers by making noise, nipping, and making aggressive passes. When spawning, male garibaldis groom a section of the reef, removing debris and tending to a patch of red algae in hopes of attracting females. #EarthIsBlue #Fish #California #FishFace #CloseUp (Photo: Evan Barba)
You don't need to be a diver to visit the shipwrecks of #ThunderBay National Marine Sanctuary! Several of the sanctuary's historic shipwrecks, including the steamboat New Orleans, are shallow enough to explore with a snorkel. On June 14, 1849, New Orleans steamed into a heavy fog and strayed from its route, running into a reef at Sugar Island. All of New Orleans' passengers were rescued, but strong winds and waves destroyed the stranded vessel a few days later. Today, New Orleans rests 15 feet down in Lake Huron, where curious snorkelers and divers can explore the wreck! #EarthIsBlue #LakeHuron #GreatLakes #Shipwreck #Snorkel #Snorkeling #Explore #PureMichigan (Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA)
Taking flight for the holidays? Kittiwakes like this one flock to #StellwagenBank National Marine Sanctuary during the winter, where they feed on small fish like sand lance. This is one bird that volunteers sometimes spot during the Stellwagen Bank Christmas Bird Count! Each year, the sanctuary teams up with the @AudubonSociety to survey a 15-mile-diameter area of the sanctuary. What do you think they'll spot this year? #EarthIsBlue #Kittiwake #Ocean #Bird #Birdwatching #Ornithology (Photo: Peter Flood)
Gather round the...Christmas tree worms? Far from the #NorthPole and only a few inches in height, Christmas tree worms are small worms that can be found on reefs in a number of your national marine sanctuaries. Brightly colored and shaped much like your favorite seasonal evergreens, these little worms use their bristle-like appendages to catch meals of phytoplankton and to breathe. While the body of the worm buries inside its host coral structure, each worm projects two tiny "trees" above the coral surface. These two little trees were spotted on the reef at #FlowerGardenBanks National Marine Sanctuary, creating their own miniature winter wonderland. #EarthIsBlue #ChristmasTreeWorm #ChristmasTree #Christmas #Invertebrate #CoralReef #Ocean (Photo: Steve Miller)
Here, a #Monitor National Marine Sanctuary maritime archaeologist records observations on the wreck of Dixie Arrow. An Allied tanker, Dixie Arrow was sunk in 1942 by a German U-boat. Today, Dixie Arrow rests in 90 feet of water off the coast of North Carolina. This is one wreck that could be protected by an expanded Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. #EarthIsBlue #Shipwreck #History #Diving #Diver #Archaeology #BattleOfTheAtlantic #WWII #WorldWarII (Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA)
Another year older and another chick in store for #Wisdom, the oldest known wild bird in the world! Now roughly 66 years old (and counting), this incredible Laysan albatross was sighted earlier this month incubating an egg at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in #Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Her mate, Akeakamai, is likely off foraging within the 200-mile boundary of the newly-expanded monument. Stay tuned this winter for more Wisdom updates! #EarthIsBlue #Albatross #LaysanAlbatross #Mother #Seabird #Hawaii (Photo: Kristina McOmber/@kupuhawaii & @USFWS)
Take a deep breath and bask in the sun lighting up this National Marine Sanctuary of #AmericanSamoa reef! The only U.S. national marine sanctuary located in the Southern Hemisphere, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa protects extensive coral reefs. The sanctuary's six management areas encompass some of the oldest and largest Porites coral heads in the world, deep water reefs, hydrothermal vent communities, and rare marine archaeological resources. #EarthIsBlue #Sun #Coral #CoralReef #Ocean #Samoa #Scenic #Adventure #Diving (Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA)
At the shores of #GreaterFarallones National Marine Sanctuary in #California, sand dunes help to protect the coastline from storm damage and large, powerful waves. And while these structures may look like large, permanent barriers, sand dunes actually change shape and size over time, constantly molded and shaped by incoming tides -- like clay at a potter's wheel. To help maintain these structures and extend protection for shorelines, we can all work to avoid damaging these structures on walks along the beach. By avoiding stepping on dunes, we can prevent degradation of the dunes and allow them to build over time. Plus, doing so helps maintain the aesthetic beauty of these structures for all to enjoy! #EarthIsBlue #Beach #SandDune #Dune #Shoreline #Scenic (Photo: Margaret Lindgren)
🐋🐋 What brings whales to #StellwagenBank National Marine Sanctuary? Food! Located off the coast of Cape Cod, each summer the rich waters of Stellwagen Bank fill up with small fish called sand lance. With that feast in store, whales like this humpback whale come calling! This makes Stellwagen Bank one of the best whale watching destinations in the world. Have you visited the sanctuary and gotten a chance to go whale watching? #EarthIsBlue #Whale #HumpbackWhale #Breach #Ocean #Feast #WhaleWatching (Photo: Richard Dolan)
Feeling moody this #Monday? Take in this foggy morning view on the shores of #OlympicCoast National Marine Sanctuary! Located off Washington's Olympic Peninsula and bordering @OlympicNationalPark, this ocean gem protects seabirds like tufted puffins and bald eagles, as well as marine mammals like sea lions and orcas. #EarthIsBlue #PNW #PNWonderland #OlympicPeninsula #Beach #Scenic #Nature #Ocean (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA)
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