Social media

National marine sanctuaries are like underwater parks, so get out there and enjoy all that nature has to offer! And don't forget that you can enter our annual photo contest now through September 2nd, and you could be featured in the next Earth Is Blue Magazine! (Photo:NOAA)

Fagatele Bay... more like Fagatele Bae!
We're all connected by one big ocean, and no matter where you are in the world, the ocean affects all our lives in big and little ways. Happy World Oceans Day, from our marine sanctuaries to yours. (Photo: Nerelle Que/NOAA)

What kind of photos do turtles take? Shell-fies!
Happy Sea Turtle Week, and have a turtley awesome day! (Photo: Wendy Cover/NOAA)

Welcome to the office of our Research Scientist, Dr. Mareike Sudek! On this day, Dr. Sudek was conducting tow surveys at Fogama`a/Fagalua and Fagatele Bay to monitor reef health in our sanctuaries. What does your office look like today? (Photo: Nerelle Que)

"Get Into Your Sanctuary" this summer with family and friends! Snap some photos and enter the annual photo contest for a chance to be featured on the Earth Is Blue Magazine! For photo contest rules and details, visit (Photo: NOAA)

"Connect. Create. Contribute." is the theme for this year's Older Americans Month. Communities that encourage the contributions of older adults are stronger! By engaging and supporting all community members, we recognize that older adults play a key role in the vitality of our neighborhoods, networks, and lives. (Photo: NMSAS/NOAA)

Heading out on the water? Make sure you are prepared with safety gear! Being a responsible boater creates endless possibilities - happy National Safe Boating Week! (Photo: Nerelle Que/NOAA)

OH BUOY! - A new scientific buoy was launched at Fagatele Bay that measures a variety of parameters in the ocean, such as pH and temperature, which are both very important contributors to the health of our vibrant coral reef ecosystem. This new buoy also complements existing monitoring efforts at National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Special thanks to all our project partners: PacIOOS, National Park of American Samoa, Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources, Coral Reef Advisory Group, NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, and Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center. (Photo credit: Nerelle Que/NOAA)