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IMAGE GALLERY Two Views of Coral Reefs: Thriving and Threatened Coral reefs are beautiful, vibrant ecosystems that house roughly one quarter of all marine species and provide billions of dollars in products and services to humans each year. But they are...MORE GALLERIES


	BLOG POST MORE STORIES Seafood for Thought Sunday, November 21 marks World Fisheries Day, an annual occasion observed in ma...
	BLOG POST MORE STORIES Saving Sharks and Dolphins, Near and Far Sophi Bromenshenkel is an unlikely shark-lover. She's eight years old and hails...
	VIDEO MORE VIDEOS Recycled Fishing Gear Converted into Energy Instead of adding castaway fishing nets to already crowded landfills, Hawaii’s m...

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					Blue Carbon Apr 19, 2013 - 10:05AMWhat is blue carbon? It's a term used to describe the carbon that is captured from the atmosphere by ocean ecosystems, mainly coastal mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes. These coastal areas can hold up to five times more...

Protected Pigfish and Mao-Mao School

Mar 13, 2013 - 7:21AM

Red Pigfish (Bodianus unimaculatus) and Blue Mao-Mao (Scorpis violacea)...

Hawaii’s Maro Coral Reef

Sep 28, 2012 - 10:35AM

This bluefin trevally is lucky to call Hawaii’s Maro Coral Reef, part...

SPOTLIGHT


40 Years of National Marine Sanctuaries In 1872, the United States did something remarkable. We set aside one of our greatest natural treasures, Yellowstone...

Spinner Dolphins in Hawaii Aug 16 2010 - 12:41pm Graceful spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) swim through the dazzling blue waters of the Papahānaumokuākea National Monument, northwest of the main Hawaiian archipelago. Papahānaumokuākea was listed as a Marine World Heritage Site in August 2010.	5 Simple Things You Can Do for the Ocean Sep 2 2011 - 3:32pm CREDIT: Flickr User Fabi Fliervoet 1. Bring Your Own The trash we "throw away" doesn't disappear. Plastic bags, disposable food containers, snack wrappers, and other loose garbage can be washed into local waterways and eventually end up in the ocean where it poses a major hazard for...
Sustainable Seafood Glossary of Terms Apr 6 2011 - 12:00pm Aquaculture - a form of food production involving the cultivation of commercial fish and shellfish species under controlled conditions. Aquaculture currently takes place in contained ponds and along the coast; but offshore aquaculture has begun to gain popularity in open ocean environments. Inland...	Wadden Sea, Germany & the Netherlands Nov 4 2010 - 3:23pm The Wadden Sea site in Germany and the Netherlands was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2009. It’s a large relatively flat coastal wetland environment, with tidal channels, sandy shoals, sea-grass meadows, mussel beds, sandbars, mudflats, salt marshes, estuaries, beaches, and dunes. The site...
Hawaii’s Maro Coral Reef Sep 28 2012 - 10:35am This bluefin trevally is lucky to call Hawaii’s Maro Coral Reef, part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, its home. Maro is the largest reef in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands and just one of the many marine ecosystems protected in the 140,000 square miles of...	Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection, Panama Nov 5 2010 - 1:30pm The Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection site in Panama was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005. The site, protected from the cold winds and effects of El Nino, provides a key ecological link to the Tropical Eastern Pacific for the transit and survival of pelagic...
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines Nov 8 2010 - 2:15pm The Tubbataha Reefs National Park site in the Philippines was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993. The site is an example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100 m (330 ft) perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons, and two coral islands – all of which supports a diverse marine...	West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, Norway Nov 8 2010 - 2:10pm The West Norwegian Fjords - Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005. The site's two fjords, among the world's longest and deepest, are considered archetypical fjord landscapes and among the most scenically outstanding anywhere. Their...
Listening for Clues About Sonar’s Effects on Marine Mammals Jan 5 2011 - 10:55am Many animals depend on their eyes to navigate, find food, locate mates, and for other important activities. But marine mammals often rely on sound—sometimes far more than sight—for such critical daily tasks. Increasingly though, boat traffic, energy extraction, and other noisy human activities echo...	Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica Nov 4 2010 - 1:37pm The Cocos Island National Park site in Costa Rica was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997. Cocos Island’s position as the first point of contact with the northern equatorial counter-current and the myriad interactions between the island and the surrounding marine ecosystem make the area an...
Protected Deep-sea Corals Jun 7 2011 - 11:52am These deep-sea corals at the Madison-Swanson Marine Reserve in the Gulf of Mexico are protected, along with the marine life they harbor. Learn more about deep-sea corals and marine protected areas in our Deep-sea Corals article.	This Flu Season, Thank a Horseshoe Crab Nov 22 2010 - 11:23pm Fever. Aching muscles. Coughing. Sniffling. It’s flu season. Have you had your shot? If so, thank a horseshoe crab.
40 Years of National Marine Sanctuaries Oct 24 2012 - 1:18pm In 1872, the United States did something remarkable. We set aside one of our greatest natural treasures, Yellowstone National Park, for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. The logic was simple: this place is truly special, and we have a national responsibility to take care of it.	One Step Closer to a Healthier Ocean Jul 27 2010 - 1:44pm The year 2010 will likely be remembered as a tragic time for the ocean. Yet, despite the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, I have hope for our ocean’s future. Last week President Obama signed an Executive Order to implement our nation’s first National Ocean Policy.
The Marine Sanctuary: A Safe Harbor for Ocean Life Jul 5 2011 - 6:06pm When most people think of iconic American landscapes, we think of places on land. Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon—these national parks are household names.	Península Valdés, Argentina Nov 4 2010 - 11:30am The Península Valdés in Argentina was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999. The site is home to important breeding populations of the endangered southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), and southern sea lion (Otaria flavescens), pictured here.