Icon of a heron standing in water

Ecosystems

Explore our curated list of stories about promoting healthy and resilient coastal and marine ecosystems.

Scientists are testing how fast soil is building up in this marsh using a device called a Surface Elevation Table on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Coastal Blue Carbon

NOAA's Coastal Blue Carbon Efforts
an aerial image of a harmful algal bloom event

Ecological Forecasting Services

Current forecasts, reports, and news about harmful algal blooms, hypoxic dead zones, and coral bleaching.
A replica Native American camp offers a glimpse into life 6,000 years ago at New Hampshire’s Great Bay Reserve.

Conserving the Cultural Landscape

How the National Estuarine Research Reserve System protects ecological and human history.
Kachemak Bay Research Reserve in Homer, Alaska.

Coastal Ecosystem Science

How science helps inform decisions about how we use our coasts to minimize harm to the environment.
A map of marine protected areas around the United States

Marine Protected Areas

If you have ever gone fishing in central California, diving in the Florida Keys, or boating in Thunder Bay, you have visited one a MPA.
an image of an esturaine

National Estuarine Research Reserves

NERRS: a network of 29 estuarine areas established across the nation for long-term research, education, and coastal stewardship.
A thriving habitat of Staghorn corals.

From Ridge to Reef

Learn about a unique approach to habitat conservation in Culebra, Puerto Rico—home to marine and terrestrial ecosystems that make it a truly special place.
an image of a NOAA Sentinel site

NOAA Sentinel Site Program

At five coastal locations, NOAA has established "Sentinel Site Cooperatives," ideal places to study and address the effects of sea level change on coastal communities.
NOAA restoration project team assessing oiling of marshes in Barataria Bay, Lousiana. After an oil spill, NOAA conducts studies to identify the extent of damage, the best methods for restoring natural resources, and the type and amount of restoration required.

Natural Resource Restoration

After events such as oil spills or hurricanes, NOAA scientists explore restoration options to help return these fragile areas to how they were before the damage occurred.
An infographic about building coastal resilience

Coastal Resilience

Resilience is the ability to adapt to changing conditions and withstand—and rapidly recover from—disruption due to emergencies.
An infographic on conserving our ocean and coasts

Place-based Conservation

Conserving special places in our coastal and marine environment is a great way to balance the often competing and occasionally conflicting demands of coastal resource use, economic development, and conservation.
Apalachicola Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Celebrate Estuaries

Discover the benefits of estuaries and our National Estuarine Research Reserve System.