Category: Ocean Awareness

Expedition on E/V Nautilus to Explore Lost Shipwrecks of Iron Bottom Sound

7/11/2025 - By oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. Located in the Solomon Islands, Iron Bottom Sound was the site of five major naval battles during the early years of the Pacific campaign during World War II. Over 100 naval vessels were lost during battles here, but only 30 have been located, and at least 21 remain… SEE MORE

Five Reasons Seamounts Matter

7/1/2025 - By sanctuaries.noaa.gov. Just like on land, there are vast mountains that lie deep beneath the ocean’s waters. Seamounts are underwater mountains that rise at least 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) from the surrounding seafloor, most of which include the remains of extinct volcanoes. These submarine mountains can be found in every ocean basin… SEE MORE

Swim into Sea Turtle Week

6/29/2025 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. [caption id="attachment_51021" align="alignright" width="361"] Image Credits: fisheries.noaa.gov.[/caption] NOAA Fisheries recently observed Sea Turtle Week (June 9–16), raising awareness about the importance of protecting these vital members of marine ecosystems worldwide. Swimming in Earth’s oceans for tens of millions of years, sea turtles lead incredible lives. They migrate across oceans and… SEE MORE

NOAA Ocean Outlook Projects Cooler Deep Waters for Gulf of Maine

6/1/2025 - By noaa.gov. The Gulf of Maine, historically one of the fastest-warming ocean regions in the world, is predicted to experience cooler bottom-water temperatures this spring and summer, according to a new experimental outlook developed by NOAA scientists. Initial signs of this shift were reported by NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Centeroffsite link and… SEE MORE

NOAA and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee researchers prepare a new real-time weather buoy for deployment in Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: NOAA

Sentinels of the Lake: How Data Buoys Increase Safety and Support Communities of Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan

5/23/2025 - By sancturies.noaa.gov. Just off the shores of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the Shipwreck Sentinel quietly bobs in the waves—one of many data buoys deployed across the Great Lakes. Sitting within the waters of Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, this data buoy provides valuable information used by fishers, boaters, and surfers alike.… SEE MORE

Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer traverses over an extensive field of ferromanganese nodules that formed the bulk of the hard seafloor substrate for much of Dive 17 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. (Image credit: NOAA)

“The next gold rush” Executive order unlocks access to deep seabed minerals

5/9/2025 - By noaa.gov. President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing a framework for American companies to identify and retrieve offshore critical minerals and resources. The Executive Order prioritizes U.S. leadership in seabed mapping and mineral exploration, ensuring reliable access to critical minerals like manganese, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements. Critical minerals… SEE MORE

Strange Fish Catches: ID These Species

4/27/2025 - By Doug Olander. Sport Fishing readers try to stump the Fish Facts experts with strange catches. What Type of Filefish Is This? QUESTION: My buddy Dan and I were fishing off the lava rocks in Kona, Hawaii, this summer and caught all kinds of different reef fish that we were able to… SEE MORE

Deep Learning on the Rocky Shore

4/25/2025 - By tula.org. Drones allow researchers to do marine surveys from the sky. Now artificial intelligence is offering a quantum leap in image processing. What are your respective backgrounds in working with these kinds of AI processes? Taylor: I did my master’s degree at Ontario’s University of Waterloo on computer vision systems… SEE MORE

How Sharks Keep the Ocean Healthy

4/23/2025 - By Claire Mullin, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Sharks have long been portrayed as terrifying predators of the deep, but really, they are essential guardians of the ocean. Despite their fearsome reputation, these apex predators play a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. Sharks contribute… SEE MORE

Threatened Sea Stars Are Finding Refuge in BC Fjords

4/17/2025 - By tula.org. A new study suggests that cold-water fjords on British Columbia’s Central Coast could be a marine refuge for threatened sunflower sea stars, which have been hit hard by sea star wasting disease. But recovery may require more than just cold seawater. Scientists at the Hakai Institute are finding… SEE MORE