Celebrating Earth Day with NOAA Fisheries

Earth Day is a time to celebrate our incredible planet. It gives us so much-the air we breathe, the water we drink, the marine life we love, and the fish and habitats that sustain us. At NOAA Fisheries, we work every day to conserve and recover our planet's marine life and ecosystems. From restoring habitats, to protecting marine animals, to supporting sustainable U.S. fisheries, learn how we're using science to protect and improve our environment.

Earth Week Features

A System-Wide Effort to Restore Florida's Indian River Lagoon

With $9.4 million in NOAA funding, the Indian River Lagoon Council and its partners are carrying out 15 projects across the estuary to restore seagrass, wetlands, shellfish populations, and shorelines.

A closer look at the system-wide effort to restore Florida's Indian River Lagoon

This story is part 1 of a series of 4. Read about the economic benefits of Indian River Lagoon restoration, and projects restoring fish reefs, clams , seagrass, and wetlands .

NOAA Fisheries Launches Underwater Glider Challenge in Hawai'i

NOAA Fisheries is leading a major effort to evaluate how next-generation ocean gliders can transform ocean monitoring and marine mammal conservation, while also benefitting U.S. fishermen and ocean industries.

NOAA Fisheries scientists explore how underwater gliders transform the way we study the ocean

Celebrating our Top Taggers for Citizen Science Month

April is Citizen Science Month! To celebrate, we're highlighting the anglers who make our cooperative tagging research possible, and recent accomplishments. Could you be the next top tagger?

Check out our top taggers

Find other ways to be a citizen scientist

Muskegon Lake Removed from List of Most Degraded Great Lakes Sites

Through a multi-year partnership with the Great Lakes Commission, NOAA has helped restore what was once one of the Great Lakes region's most degraded areas.

How we worked with partners to address environmental challenges in Muskegon Lake

Habitat Restoration Helps Put Anglers Back on the Pier, Hikers Back on the Trail

When environmental disasters disrupt waterfront access, NOAA restores habitat to reconnect communities to the outdoors.

Learn how NOAA restores habitat to reconnect communities to the outdoors

Gearing Up: Turtle Excluder Devices Strengthen Fisheries and Help Recover Sea Turtle Populations

Since 1987, turtle excluder devices have protected sea turtles from getting accidentally caught in trawl nets. NOAA scientists and fishermen are working together to make TED designs even more effective, helping some sea turtle populations to rebound while continuing to provide economic opportunities.

Find out more about turtle excluder devices

Helping Alaska's Coastal Communities Adapt with Next-Generation Ocean Forecasting

As Alaska's oceans rapidly change, NOAA scientists are developing cutting-edge tools to help communities respond and adapt.

How NOAA works to help fishing communities and fisheries managers anticipate and respond to these challenges

First Bowhead Whale Sighting in Southeast Alaska

Second reported sighting in eastern North Pacific waters south of the Aleutian Island chain.

First bowhead whale sighting in Southeast Alaska

Return 'Em Right: Meet the People Helping Anglers Save Fish One Release at a Time

Return 'Em Right is working to improve the survival of reef fish in the Gulf of America. A new video series highlights the many individuals dedicated to ensuring the enjoyment of anglers for decades to come.

Meet the people helping anglers save fish one release at a time

Conserving Long-Lived Species: The Importance of Monitoring Decades-Old Individuals

Conservation and recovery of long-lived species requires continued monitoring of individuals. Meet some of the animals that have been known to scientists for decades.

Earth Week Videos and Multimedia

Restoring Historically Abundant Salmon Habitat on Shale Creek

Helicopter-supported construction of engineered log jams restores salmon habitat on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.

Rebuilding Puerto Rico's Mangroves: How BoriCorps Creates Jobs for Young Professionals

This NOAA-funded program helps Puerto Rican young professionals get training and job experience to enter the workforce, while restoring mangroves that were destroyed by Hurricane Maria.

Gliders: Collecting Data on Ocean Health

NOAA Fisheries traditionally uses ships to collect data on ocean health. Now, we're using gliders to expand our research. They can be deployed for longer times, collecting data in inaccessible areas-like Antarctica-at a lower cost than ships.

Rebuilding Salmon Habitat on the Upper Quinault

NOAA and the Quinault Indian Nation are restoring habitat for blueback salmon.