NOAA Education

This , help us track Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu)! Contribute to a valuable source of data for sea turtles in Hawai‘i by reporting the location where you see turtles with white alpha-numeric markings on their shells. : fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/endangered-species-conservation/honu-count-help-us-find-numbered-sea-turtles-hawaii

Caption: Honu with shell etchings basking at Laniākea Beach on Oʻahu’s north shore
📸 Credit: NOAA Fisheries Service/Camryn Allen

Why does the ocean have waves? What is a barrier island? How many species live in the ocean? Get the facts about our ocean and coasts with National Ocean Service's Ocean Facts — a perfect daily starter activity for the classroom! oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/

Need a refresher on these majestic marine reptiles? Our sea turtle resource collection will help you explore the biology and adaptations of sea turtles, while understanding the human and natural threats to their survival. Activities include lessons on habitat restoration, turtle interaction etiquette, and tracking sea turtles through real-time data — perfect for ! noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/sea-turtles

Caption: A green sea turtle swims in the waters off of Oahu, Hawaii.
📸Credit: NOAA Fisheries Service/Ali Bayless

Experience NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' underwater treasures through virtual reality! Sanctuaries 360° is a collection of immersive virtual dives, created to visit these amazing places without getting wet. Lesson plans and activities to complement the virtual reality videos are included! sanctuaries.noaa.gov/vr/


📸Photo credit: NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries/NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The Deep Ocean Education Project helps educators and students harness the power of leading organizations in ocean exploration: NOAA Ocean Exploration, Nautilus Live, and Schmidt Ocean Institute. Dive into educational materials that include image galleries, video highlights, student activities, and more. Teachers can even create a list to save materials to return to later! deepoceaneducation.org/explore-resources/

It’s National Fishing and Boating Week! This podcast episode from NOAA Fisheries Service, “Teaching Kids to Fish and Love the Water,” shares a pilot project from 2024 that gets students and volunteers involved in skill-based learning through fishing and crabbing with local professionals. Get inspired:

Teaching Kids to Fish and Love the Water NOAA Fisheries and partners are working with communities in South Carolina to get kids involved in fishing and environmental conservation.

A rare sighting for science! 😍

First Live White Abalone Found in Five Years During Channel Islands Survey 🐚

A team of scientists and sanctuary staff conducting habitat surveys in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary recently made an exciting discovery: a live white abalone, a federally endangered marine snail whose population has declined by an estimated 99% since the 1970s.

Read more about this rare sighting in our latest : https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/notes/2026/first-live-white-abalone-found-in-5-years-channel-islands-survey.html.

📸: Athena Maguire/CDFW

💙 Time to celebrate this World Ocean Day!

From the beauty of offshore reefs like those found in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary to the coastal communities that see the waves daily, the ocean is our happy place.

How are you celebrating the ocean today? Leave a comment to share why you love the ocean!

📷 Emma Hickerson/NOAA