Category: Ocean Awareness

Polymetallic nodules, such as those shown here, can occur on the ocean floor and are of interest for the critical minerals they contain. (Image credit: NOAA)

NOAA to Map Critical Mineral Deposits in Deep Waters off American Samoa

1/26/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. NOAA’s National Ocean Service announced today a new hydrographic survey project to map and characterize more than 30,000 square nautical miles of federal waters off American Samoa. This project is part of the Department of Commerce's implementation of the U.S. Offshore Critical Minerals Mapping Plan as defined… SEE MORE

Shark Attack Statistics: Understanding Coastal Safety Risks

1/17/2026 - By Alexander Laybourne, worldanimalfoundation.org. For harbor communities, beach managers, and coastal recreation operators, understanding actual shark attack statistics helps put ocean safety risks in proper perspective. While shark encounters generate significant media attention and public concern, data-driven analysis reveals that the statistical risk remains remarkably low—information that's valuable for coastal… SEE MORE

North Atlantic right whale #2503 (Boomerang) and her fifth calf swimming approximately 9 miles east of the St. Mary’s River entrance in Florida. Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Aerial survey funded by NOAA Fisheries and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season 2026

1/10/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. The right whale calving season begins in mid-November and runs through mid-April. Researchers have identified 15 calves so far this calving season. Every single female North Atlantic right whale and calf are vital to this endangered species’ recovery. Since 2017, the whales have been experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event, which… SEE MORE

Why Are Corals So Colorful? Understanding Reef Health Indicators

1/4/2026 - By Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, whoi.com. For harbor communities and coastal areas that depend on healthy reef ecosystems, understanding coral coloration provides valuable insights into reef health. Coral reefs protect harbors from wave action, support commercial and recreational fisheries, and indicate overall marine ecosystem conditions—making the science behind coral color… SEE MORE

waves crash over the breakwater at high tide, boston skyline in distance

U.S. Coastal Sea Level Rise Rate Doubled in Past Century, New Study Finds

12/24/2025 - By Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, whoi.edu. For harbor operators and coastal infrastructure planners, accurate sea level data is essential for making critical decisions about dock elevations, bulkhead construction, and long-term facility planning. A new scientific study highlighting significant acceleration in U.S. coastal sea level rise has important implications for harbors… SEE MORE

A drone carries a suction-cup tag toward a humpback whale. A successful deployment attaches cleanly near the dorsal fin, allows the whale to continue natural behavior without disturbance, collects high-quality data, and later releases for recovery. Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA Permit #25754

Practice Makes Perfect: Drone Operations in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

12/18/2025 - By sanctuaries.noaa.gov, Published in sanctuaries.noaa.gov. A well-placed multi-sensor tag on a humpback whale allows researchers to track its underwater movements and observe its behavior. But how do whale researchers practice dropping these suction cup tags from a drone onto the back of a massive ocean animal? With a surfboard, of… SEE MORE

Project team staff operate a water cannon to distribute oyster shells across the project area. Credit: Justine Lundsted/NOAA

New Jersey Exceeds Goals for Shell Recycling Program Expansion

12/16/2025 - By coast.noaa.gov, Published in coast.noaa.gov. Despite rising water temperatures, disease, and other challenges, an oyster reef in New Jersey’s Mullica River holds fast as one of the last self-sustaining populations along the state’s Atlantic coast. Historically abundant on the East Coast, oysters have experienced a major decline in the last… SEE MORE

Derelict Fishing Gear: A Growing Hazard for Whales and Boaters Alike

12/6/2025 - By Norris Comer, Published in best4boats.com. The tragic recent stranding of a young humpback whale on Oregon's coast has renewed attention on the widespread problem of derelict fishing gear—an issue that affects not only marine mammals but recreational and commercial boaters navigating U.S. coastal waters. For anyone who has cruised… SEE MORE

Close-up view of bacterial communities thriving at the vent site. The distance between the two green laser points is 9 cm, providing a scale for the dense microbial structures visible on the seafloor. (Photo by EXTREME25)

Arctic Ocean Discovery Reveals New Methane Source Using Advanced Marine Sensors

12/4/2025 - By Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, whoi.edu. Marine research technology continues to advance our understanding of ocean chemistry, with implications for Arctic navigation and environmental monitoring that affect commercial shipping routes and harbor operations throughout the region. According to a November 21, 2025 press release from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: An… SEE MORE

Porites cf. lobata is a key reef-building coral that provides habitats for numerous species, including feather stars (comatulid crinoids) and fish. (Photo by Kharis Schrage, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Palau’s Rock Islands Harbor Heat-resistant Corals

11/15/2025 - By Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, whoi.edu. Heat-Resistant Corals Discovered in Palau's Rock Islands As marine heatwaves increasingly threaten coral reefs worldwide, new research from Palau offers promising insights for harbor and coastal communities that depend on healthy reef ecosystems for shoreline protection, fisheries, and maritime navigation safety. The discovery of… SEE MORE