Sanctuary Updates

For the first time, researchers have documented white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). A new publication resulting from the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science research grant, Determining Habitat Requirements and Connectivity for Reef Fishes in the Gulf of America, reports acoustic detections of nine white sharks within the sanctuary between 2022 and 2025.

The 2026 NCRMP mission at East and West Flower Garden Banks is now complete, marking another round in the sanctuary’s biennial coral reef monitoring record.

The 2026 Lionfish Invitational research expedition brought together 30 volunteer divers who traveled approximately 120 miles offshore to Flower Garden Banks, where they removed 157 invasive lionfish from the reef.

Coral reefs are valuable in ways that extend far beyond what we can see beneath the surface. A newly published NOAA report, Ecosystem Services Valuation of U.S. Coral Reefs, explores the many ways coral reefs benefit people, communities, economies, and marine ecosystems across the United States.

Scientists are preparing to explore the mesophotic reefs of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary to better understand how these deeper coral ecosystems respond to changing ocean conditions. The five-year research project, led by Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) and and includes NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory(AOML), the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), NOAA’s Nati

Experience your national marine sanctuaries through a virtual dive. The wonders of 360-degree photography and virtual reality, your underwater treasure are just a few clicks away! https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/vr/

During the National Marine Sanctuary System's 50th anniversary celebration in 2022, a commemorative poster series was launched to capture the beauty and diversity of each site in the system. The posters are two sided, featuring original artwork on the front and educational information on the back. Other posters created for the system over the years have also been added. Dive in and download your sanctuary posters today! https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/posters/