A female napoleon wrasse swims by a reef — An App Helps Scientists Combat Illegal Fish Trade

An aerial view of the Hawaii's shore with lava flowing into the ocean from Kilauea volcano. — Island Ecosystem Transformation via Lava

The Sant Ocean Hall is the National Museum of Natural History's largest exhibit, providing visitors with a unique and breathtaking introduction to the majesty of the ocean — The Sant Ocean Hall Turns Ten!

Quicklinks

A satellite image of a hurricane.

Hurricanes Typhoons & Cyclones

Two penguins on a rocky shore.

Penguins

Mangrove roots stick out above coastal waters.

Mangroves

A colorful coral reef in blue ocean water.

Corals

A brittle star holding on to deep-sea coral.

Deep Sea

A giant squid at the surface of the ocean.

Giant Squid

A hammerhead shark swims just underneath the surface of the water.

Sharks

An iridescent jellyfish underwater.

Jellyfish & Comb Jellies

Featured Content

A Honduran small-scale fisherman on a boat setting out to fish.

Clever Measures Track Fishing Pressures

by Larisa Bennett

An opah at the Honolulu Fish Auction with a printed label attached that includes an ID number, bar code, the date, the receiver's ID number, the cart number, species name, vessel name, and weight of the fish.

“Storied Fish”: Why Sustainable Seafood Requires A Tale

by Marah Hardt and Colleen Howell

A dish of halibut

America’s ever-changing relationship with seafood

by Danielle Hall

Explore Map

Daily Catch

A beluga whale

Baby Beluga

Though young belugas are gray or brown, adults are easily identified by their white coloring. This white color allows the beluga to blend into its habitat, the icy Arctic and subarctic waters. However it is not a perfect defense against the beluga’s predators, which include polar bears, killer whales, and humans.

Around the Web

Dirty, Crevassed Glaciers in Alaska

Ocean Leadership

History and Seaports in Charleston

Ocean Leadership

Dry Season Fires in Australia

Ocean Leadership

The Eastern Caribbean Is Swamped by a Surge of Seaweed

Ocean Leadership

Roving Exhibit Highlights Ocean Plastics Problem

Ocean Leadership

Are You An Educator?

At Smithsonian Ocean, we have lesson plans, activities, and resources to help you engage your students in the wonders of our oceans.

See Lesson Plans