NOAA's Monterey Bay NMS

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📣 For Your Attention: MBNMS is asking the public to report & not disturb any large cotton bales, lost at sea on Feb 6, that may have recently washed up on San Luis Obispo County beaches. Report sighted cotton bales to: RM@gallaghermarine.com montereybay.noaa.gov/new/2024/24031…

Celebrating #WorldJellyDay! Brown sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) jellies are passive swimmers and are at the mercy of the currents, which often concentrate them in large numbers (also known as a bloom or smack) found in @MBNMS. #EarthIsBlue #WildSanctuaries

#OTD in 1876, the 148 ton, 98 foot schooner "Active" experienced rough weather causing it to go ashore at Lighthouse Point in Santa Cruz. No lives were lost. Learn more about shipwrecks in @MBNMS: montereybay.noaa.gov/maritime/losse… #MaritimeHeritage Image Courtesy of UC Santa Cruz

A new report just released identifies prevalent types of #MarineDebris on @MBNMS shoreline and their distribution by analyzing 5 citizen science data sets collected by more than 37,000 volunteers during a 5-year period: montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/re… @NOAADebris #EarthIsBlue

The National Marine Sanctuary System is comprised of 15 @sanctuaries and 2 marine national monuments that conserve more than 620,000 sq mi of ocean and Great Lakes waters. Celebrate #NationalMarineSanctuaryDay by sharing how you feel connected to the ocean and Great Lakes 🌊

NEW SPECIES ALERT 🚨 A newly discovered sponge, Megaciella sanctuarium, has been named in honor of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary!

Audrey Sarin, a Hollings scholar, and Gracia Rojas, an EPP/MSI scholar, have been hard at work above and below the water this summer in @MBNMS for research and outreach. #NOAAScholars #WomeninSTEM @sanctuaries @marinesanctuary noaa.gov/office-of-educ…

Exploring your sanctuary this weekend? Capture @MBNMS beauty and submit your best images to the Get Into Your Sanctuary #PhotoContest by Sept 5. Let’s see what you got! 📸 Guidelines: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.… #ILoveMySanctuary #SaveSpectacular #RecreateResponsibly (📷 Ed Stone)

Get your new #NationalMarineSanctuariesStamps today! #SaveSpectacular #50thAnniversary

In response to a directive from Congress, @USFWS evaluated the feasibility of reintroducing sea otters to the West Coast of the contiguous U.S. Reintroduction is feasible in northern CA & OR. The study doesn’t provide a recommendation on reintroduction: go.usa.gov/xSQjh

A great way to Get Into Your Sanctuary is to go diving! @MBNMS is one of the premier dive destinations in the world with temperate reefs & kelp forest that rival the biodiversity of tropical coral reefs & rainforests. #ILoveMySanctuary #SaveSpectacular #EarthIsBlue (📷Nathan Coy)

Test your photo skills during this summer’s Get Into Your Sanctuary #PhotoContest! Be sure to use your telephoto lens when getting that up close shot to comply with wildlife viewing regulations. sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.… #ILoveMySanctuary #SaveSpectacular (📷 Kaelyn De Young)

@MBNMS and @PointBlueConSci recently completed #ACCESS cruises from northern Monterey Bay to Half Moon Bay. Data will be used to identify baleen whale relative abundance in an effort to decrease the risk of #entanglement of large whales in central California. (📷 NOAA and PBCS)

Since the first biological expedition to #DavidsonSeamount in 2002, it has been globally recognized as one of the best studied and most protected #seamounts. In 2008, @MBNMS was expanded to include it. Learn more: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/may22/exp… #SaveSpectacular (📷 NOAA/MBARI)

#JobAnnouncement! We are seeking qualified applicants for our @MBNMS Advisory Council Coordinator & Program Support Specialist position! Details: #mbadmin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">montereybay.noaa.gov/new/welcome.ht… #OceanJobs #MarineCareers #MarineJobs (📷 Chris Seaton)

Divers remove debris from the deep! @MBNMS and @CAStateParks partnered with volunteers from Bay Area Underwater Explorers to recover 26 discarded tires from Point Lobos SMR! #MPAmonday #CalifMPAs #WildSanctuaries @pointlobossnriver (📷)Kevin Schapansky & Robert Lee BAUE/LOF)

Seeing green yet? Giant kelp forests in @MBNMS are tiered like terrestrial rainforests and create crucial habitats for many marine species. These underwater forests provide food, shelter, and protection for hundreds of species. #HappyStPatricksDay #WildSanctuaries #EarthIsBlue

Whatcha lookin' at? Orcas are very active predators and can often be seen spyhopping - a behavior consisting of holding itself vertically by kicking with its tail fluke to inspect the water surface. Some individuals are able to keep this up for minutes at a time! #EarthIsBlue

These boots were made for walkin'! While stalking for crabs and marine insects, the snowy egret walks upright with their wings held close to their body to allow it to make quick directional changes to better catch fast moving prey. #WildSanctuaries (📷 Meg McWhinney)