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
Image Credits: pexels.com.

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
a large sailboat underway with the crew sitting on the rail

Legendary Racing Yacht Wild Oats XI Reborn as Palm Beach XI for Sydney to Hobart

12/26/2025 - By Arnie Hammerman, best4boats.com. The transformation of one of ocean racing's most successful vessels offers insights into how advanced marine technology developed for competition can translate to recreational yacht design and harbor operations. Mark Richards' decision to rebrand and extensively refit the record-setting Wild Oats XI demonstrates the growing intersection… 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 group photo of the U.S. delegation to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) meeting in Seville, Spain (November 17-24, 2025). Included in the photo are NOAA’s Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries Service and acting assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere (front row, 3rd from right); and Drew Lawler, principal deputy assistant secretary for NOAA International Fisheries (front row, 2nd from left). (Image credit: NOAA)

U.S. secures major win for bluefin tuna fishery at 2025 ICCAT annual meeting

12/21/2025 - By noaa.gov, Published in noaa.gov. The United States delegation to the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in Seville, Spain, secured the largest single-year increase in U.S. bluefin tuna quota in the history of the fishery. U.S. negotiators, led by NOAA’s Principal Deputy Assistant… 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
Image Credits: Noaa.

NOAA/British Geological Survey Release 2025 World Magnetic Model Report

12/14/2025 - By nesdis.noaa.gov, Published in nesdis.noaa.gov. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the British Geological Survey have released their joint Technical Report for the 2025 World Magnetic Model (WMM 2025), the standard navigation model for the U.S. Department of Defense and the global public which provides critical global data for navigation systems… SEE MORE
Image Credits: PxHere.

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