National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Connecting people to treasured places in our ocean and Great Lakes - your National Marine Sanctuaries

Behind the seas at Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2026 🌊 As CHOW celebrated twin milestones of the conference's 25th year along...
06/24/2026

Behind the seas at Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2026 🌊

As CHOW celebrated twin milestones of the conference's 25th year alongside the nation's 250th anniversary, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation honored the earliest stewards of our waters and charted the course for the next generation of wavemakers.

“We must make sure that [the next generation] understands they’re part of the greatest moment of human history – of exploration and discovery,” said keynote speaker Nainoa Thompson of the Hōkūleʻa Crew.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation was proud to partner with the National Maritime Historical Society on the Program.

Thank you to all our sponsors, partners, and participants for joining us to launch bold breakthroughs, ignite discovery and secure waters for all.

CapitolHillOceanWeek.org

We were thrilled to represent Monitor National Marine Sanctuary at CHOW, sharing the incredible work we’ve been doing in...
06/18/2026

We were thrilled to represent Monitor National Marine Sanctuary at CHOW, sharing the incredible work we’ve been doing in collaboration with Northrop Grumman.

Through interactive tabling sessions, we showcased our joint project, before taking the main stage for a closing keynote, on how this partnership is driving marine conservation and innovation forward.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, and shared our passion for protecting our underwater treasures!

Photos: National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

It's time to shell-ebrate! 🐢 For and the opening of the photo contest, we're spotlighting some turtle-y awesome phot...
06/16/2026

It's time to shell-ebrate! 🐢 For and the opening of the photo contest, we're spotlighting some turtle-y awesome photos!

This year, there are four exciting new contest categories:

🌊 Life in Motion
🚣‍♂️ Sanctuaries and You
🏝️ The Water's Edge
⚓ Ripples from the Past

Submit your best snapshots to NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' by September 7!

Learn more: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html

Welcome aboard to the new Superintendent of NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Edward Kertis! 🪸
06/10/2026

Welcome aboard to the new Superintendent of NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Edward Kertis! 🪸

Happy from our national marine sanctuaries! 🌊 Today we take a moment to celebrate the waters that connect our nation’...
06/08/2026

Happy from our national marine sanctuaries! 🌊

Today we take a moment to celebrate the waters that connect our nation’s coastlines to those of the global community.

In honor of , here are just some of the ways the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation helps protect and support America’s legacy in the global marine ecosystem:

🐳 With fewer than 400 North Atlantic Right Whales surviving today, their migration paths, nurseries, and hangout spots are crucial to their species’ survival. At NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, the Foundation sponsors a system that alerts vessels in areas where Right Whales are commonly found to prevent collisions.

🪸 Experts in our marine sanctuaries support wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration — and many of their findings inform efforts around the globe. The Foundation works alongside many partners, including NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, to restore deep coral habitats injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and broaden our understanding of these important Gulf habitats.

🤿 These public waters are hubs of recreation, tourism, and education. Every year, millions of visitors from around the globe are drawn to the beauty and magic of America’s marine sanctuaries.

See more at marinesanctuary.org/foundation25

CHOW STARTS NOW! 🌊Today's the day! begins this morning with our opening keynote from the National Oceanic and Atmosphe...
06/02/2026

CHOW STARTS NOW! 🌊

Today's the day! begins this morning with our opening keynote from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Tune in to hear from an incredible list of speakers including renowned explorers, scientists, Indigenous and community leaders, and industry innovators. Discussions will focus on America’s marine heritage, restoration and resilience, working waterfronts and seafood, ocean technology and the next era of exploration.

Capitol Hill Ocean Week is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors and partners. Thank you to this year's sponsors for supporting our mission and helping us keep CHOW fee-free and open to the public! CapitolHillOceanWeek.org

We teamed up for a cleanup in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! The team cleaned 775 pounds of trash and f...
05/15/2026

We teamed up for a cleanup in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary!

The team cleaned 775 pounds of trash and fishing gear from the shores of the marine sanctuary and the national park - from balloons and bottles to boat pieces! (For scale, that's the weight of a California sea lion!)

Debris from land-based sources is a significant source of marine debris in the Channel Islands, carried by currents onto these remote shores.

This event was part of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's larger effort to remove marine debris from five different marine sanctuaries across California, Washington, and the Gulf, a project supported by a 2023 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

This work wouldn't be possible without the support of our partners at NOAA, as well as Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Island Packers, Santa Barbara Adventure Company, Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, and Tidy Seas.

Photo credits: Matt Dayka

Here's a sneak peek of what you'll see at Capitol Hill Ocean Week! begins June 2 with a two-day conference featuring k...
05/12/2026

Here's a sneak peek of what you'll see at Capitol Hill Ocean Week!

begins June 2 with a two-day conference featuring keynote remarks and plenary session discussions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) leadership, renowned explorers, scientists, Indigenous and community leaders, and industry innovators; brought together by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and our 2026 program partner, the National Maritime Historical Society.

Discussions will focus on America’s marine heritage, restoration and resilience, working waterfronts and seafood, ocean technology and the next era of exploration.

As we sail into the future, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation honors the earliest stewards of our waters and charts the course for the next generation of wavemakers — including you!

We’re so proud to have hosted the nation’s premier gathering focused on ocean and Great Lakes policy for twenty-five years. And thanks to our generous sponsors, CHOW continues to be free and open to the public — all are welcome!

Check out the full agenda at CapitolHillOceanWeek.org!

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is delighted to wish Sir David Attenborough a happy 100th birthday! To commemor...
05/09/2026

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is delighted to wish Sir David Attenborough a happy 100th birthday!

To commemorate his birthday, dive into the depths of America’s national marine sanctuaries in this article published in The Flow Trip magazine's David Attenborough issue, written by Rachel Plunkett of NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries! Read here: https://ow.ly/vsmA50YWO4x

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