The sounds that make sanctuaries special

Results from hydrophone recordings have shown that Gray’s Reef has an incredibly natural soundscape because it is not near significant noise sources such as shipping lanes, military test sites, or oil and gas development. It is also located in the only known nursery grounds for the world’s most endangered large whale species, North Atlantic Right Whales. 

Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a chapter of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, is inviting the public to discover the wonders of the Atlantic Ocean by listening to the acoustic soundscape recordings in the NOAA underwater sound monitoring study. Discover the Sanctuary Soundscapes project, featured on SoundCloud, to immerse yourself in Gray’s Reef! Listen, comment, download and enjoy these passive acoustic recordings from 60 feet below the surface of the Atlantic.

Citizen Scientists and students of all ages can take a deeper dive into the project data analysis.

Washington CoastSavers join International Coastal Cleanup to conserve Olympic Coast

This year, all volunteers were encouraged to follow COVID-safety guidelines and Ocean Conservancy released their own set of “Steps for Safety.” Following these guidelines, nearly 500 dedicated volunteers from around the Pacific Northwest joined Washington CoastSavers for the 2020 ICC. The volunteers removed an estimated 8,000 pounds of plastic water bottles, household trash, lost fishing gear, and other types of washed up debris that harm our coastal wildlife and shorelines. The approximate value of the volunteer effort totaled nearly $50,000. These results are especially impressive taking into consideration that 20 Olympic National Park, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and Makah, Quinault, Quileute, and Hoh tribal beaches were closed for this cleanup in order to prevent a COVID outbreak in our coastal communities.

Learn how you can get involved with future cleanup efforts with Washington CoastSavers. 

CONTEST: Design the 2021 Ocean Count T-shirt

Every year in January, February, and March, volunteers count whales from the shores of Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island for the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count. The goal of the Ocean Count is to increase public awareness of the sanctuary and current ocean issues, including threats to humpback whales, while also promoting responsible viewing of all marine wildlife. The project offers Hawaiʻi residents and visitors an opportunity to monitor humpback whales in their breeding grounds by conducting a yearly shore-based census during the peak season

It’s not too late to enter your creative design highlighting humpback whales in Hawaiian waters!  Submissions will be accepted until September 30, 2020, at 11:59 PM HST.

Athletes Unlimited softballers promote a healthy ocean

Congratulations to Danielle and Nicole on an outstanding softball season with Athletes Unlimited and thank you Give Lively for the end-of-season grant! 

You can support Danielle and Nicole’s fundraising efforts by texting AUSANCTUARY to 44-321.

From the Blog: Underwater Archaeology in the Great Lakes

As research coordinator for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Stephanie Gandulla’s job is to work with a team of fellow maritime archaeologists to search for, document, and protect some of the best shipwreck diving sites in the world.

Stephanie describes diving in the bitter cold of Lake Huron’s depths to set and maintain mooring buoys that allow the public to discover and connect with these maritime artifacts in a safe and responsible way, as well as documenting and monitoring these historically significant sites. 

Learn more >>>