Changing Seas

At a time when large fish are rapidly disappearing from the world's oceans, one giant is making a comeback in Florida. The Goliath Grouper was facing extinction when it became a protected species in 1990. Since then, the population has…

NOAA's Aquarius Reef Base is the only undersea research station operating in the world today. Located just three and a half miles offshore from Key Largo, Florida, at a depth of 60 feet, aquanauts spend ten day missions living and working…

In the deep waters off Florida's Atlantic coast grow magnificent structures, capable of reaching 300 feet in height. These are the corals of the deep sea. Porcelain-white and centuries old, few humans have seen these delicate reefs. The…

An ever-growing demand for fresh seafood has pushed wild stocks around the world to the brink. Aquaculture is one alternative to meet the increasing need for fish and crustaceans. Some aquaculture methods have been highly criticized for…

How do you count two fish, three fish or even a school of fish? In Dry Tortugas National Park, located 70 miles from Key West, Florida, a group of scientists have joined forces to conduct a massive fish census. In this unprecedented…

Bottlenose dolphins are a beloved Florida icon. But, recent studies show disturbing signs of immune system dysfunction and disease plaguing this charismatic mammal. These problems might be linked to legacy contaminants and other…

An ancient species of flowering plants that grow beneath the surface of the world's oceans, seagrasses link coastal coral reefs with mangrove forests along the coastline. Today, these "prairies of the sea," along with mangroves, are…

In the turquoise blue waters of the Florida Keys, a new attraction is drawing scuba divers from around the world: The USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. Laid to rest in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Vandenberg is the…

In the waters of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, a voracious alien predator has taken hold. Native to the Indo-Pacific, the invasive lionfish is a major threat to biodiversity.

In the emerging science of coral reef restoration, marine biologists and resource managers are discovering naturally occurring mechanisms that promote coral growth and restore ecological balance in these gardens of the sea. Since the late…

The oceans are part of America's newest medical frontier. In Florida, scientists are studying a variety of marine invertebrates which may hold the key to unlocking the secrets of our own biology. At Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute…

The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 may no longer make headline news, but the story is far from over. Oceanographers continue to study the long-term effects this disaster might have on marine ecosystems. Among…

Sharks are beleaguered species. The oceans' most formidable apex predators are overfished worldwide for their fins, which are considered a delicacy in many Asian countries. Shark populations have declined by up to 90 percent in some…

They are some the ocean's tiniest inhabitants. On coral reefs, microorganisms are copious creatures. But in a world that's invisible to the naked eye, drastic changes are taking place. Throughout Florida, scientists painstakingly work to…

Join researchers from the Reef Environmental Education Foundation and the Cayman Islands Department of Environment as they study one of the last great reproductive populations of Nassau Grouper. Normally a solitary species, during the…

On the southern tip of the Florida Everglades, the Shark River meets the Gulf of Mexico. This estuary is home to a number of predators, including the alligator and the bull shark. But despite its wild nature, the Everglades ecosystem is…

While Elkhorn and Staghorn corals have undergone a drastic decline in the Caribbean, their hybrid, "Fused Staghorn," is increasing in numbers in parts of the region. One scientist is studying the animals in Belize to see if the hybrid…

In the Florida Keys, divers from around the country learn how to map shipwrecks and apply their skills on a mysterious 19th Century slave ship. When diving isn't possible, professional explorers use high-tech tools to scan objects buried…

In the cold, deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, little-known animals spend their entire lives in near darkness, far removed from our human world. Until now, little research has been conducted on these creatures of the deep, keeping much…

Scientists with the Global Reef Expedition are on a six year mission to study remote coral reefs around the world. While in French Polynesia, the experts conduct extensive habitat mapping to create one of a kind seafloor atlases.…

Crinoids have been around in various forms since before the age of dinosaurs. Now experts descend into the deep to study the animals from a submersible.

Each summer, the world's largest known aggregation of whale sharks occurs just off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, giving experts the opportunity to learn more about the largest fish in the sea.

The unique oceanic conditions of the Galápagos Islands serve as a perfect natural laboratory to study how climate change may impact corals in the future.

Strange and prehistoric-looking, Smalltooth Sawfish were once coveted by anglers as popular trophy fish. But habitat loss and overfishing have greatly reduced the animals' range and landed them on the endangered species list in 2003.

After sea turtle hatchlings emerge from their nests, they vanish into the sea. Until recently, their journey was largely shrouded in mystery. Now, as technology advances, researchers are beginning to understand where turtles go during…

Each year, thousands of tourists interact with the tame southern stingrays that congregate in the shallow waters of Grand Cayman’s North Sound. Famous marine artist and scientist Dr. Guy Harvey has assembled a research team to study what…

The unique oceanographic conditions of the eastern tropical Pacific make the area one of the best spots in the world for big game anglers to hook billfish. But intense pressures from commercial fishing operations have taken their toll on…

Most people are familiar with the pretty tropical fish found in aquariums, but few realize that some of these animals are capable of changing sex. Discover the unique ways of how some fish species do this and why they likely evolved this…

Until recently there was scientific consensus that sponges were the first animals to branch off the “Animal Tree of Life,” a kind of family tree for all living and extinct animals on earth. But recent DNA research has cast doubt on that…

Every winter, hundreds of manatees aggregate at Crystal River, Florida, attracted by the warmer, spring-fed clear waters. This sanctuary is also a treasure for scientists, who take advantage of these manatee gatherings to study them. From…

In the remote Pacific, the islands of Maug rise out of the sea. Formed by an ancient volcano, shallow hydrothermal vents are found close to coral reefs inside the submerged caldera. These vents emit levels of CO2 that can be expected in…

The Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida, is known as one of the best shore dives in the United States. What appears as an unlikely dive site at first is home to a rich variety of marine life, ranging from tiny nudibranchs to manta…

Scientists work with the private sector to develop sustainable offshore aquaculture.

Putrid mats of blue green algae are wreaking havoc on Florida’s shorelines. Scientists think water pollution is to blame, and if something isn’t done about it there could be irreparable damage to the environment, the local economy and…

For millennia, the exchange of CO2 between the oceans and atmosphere has been in balance. Now, with more anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the oceans are taking up more CO2 as well. This additional CO2 is negatively…

Mexico’s remote Revillagigedo Archipelago is a hotspot for oceanic mantas. Scientists use photo ID techniques and acoustic tags to study these mysterious fish. They are also researching if the filter-feeding rays are impacted negatively…

Dr. Denise Herzing has dedicated her career to studying wild Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Bahamas. She researches the animals’ social structure, behaviors and communication. Now modern technology is making it possible to correlate the…

On a shipwreck near Key West lives a tiny potential new threat. Researchers want to know where this new species came from, and whether its sudden appearance spells disaster for the delicate coral reef ecosystem in the Florida Keys.

While American crocodiles are recovering in parts of their range, their future looks bleak in Jamaica. Habitat loss and poaching have led to a drastic decline in the population. Dedicated experts are working to save the species through…

Flats fishing is popular with recreational anglers in the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. But until recently, little was known about tarpon, bonefish and permit – the species most coveted by sports fishermen. Now scientists are studying…

California’s north-central coast is famous for its natural splendor. Only fifty miles northwest of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge lies the Cordell Bank, a magical underwater island few people have ever heard of. Protected inside a…

Harmful algal blooms come in many forms, from toxic outbreaks impacting the health of animals and humans, to non-toxic but expansive sargassum mats devastating local economies and tourism. Scientists are working to understand what causes…

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is devastating Florida’s fragile coral reef ecosystem. But all hope is not lost. Dedicated scientists are working hard to find the cause of the disease, treat the ill and restore these cities of the sea to…

Each winter, a population of humpback whales migrates to its breeding grounds in the Hawaiian Islands. It is here that male humpbacks perform their elaborate and haunting song. Experts are studying the purpose of this song and what it…

Scientists explore mysterious blue holes scattered throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

Ten years after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, scientists study its devastating impacts on the Gulf of Mexico and use lessons learned to prepare for the next big spill.

Scientists study the adorable Humboldt penguins that nest along Peru’s desert coastline.

Experts study what makes American Samoa’s coral reefs more resilient than reefs elsewhere.

Shore-based, catch and release shark fishing is a popular past time in Florida. But is it having a negative impact on sensitive shark populations? Scientists have teamed up with anglers to study the survival rates of the fish and conduct…

Along scenic coastlines in the South, waves of mesmerizing green and golden grass stretch to the horizon. This is the salt marsh - a part liquid, part solid landscape that is teeming with life. How do scientists study the salt marsh? And…

The deep-sea submersible Alvin has brought explorers to extraordinary places for more than 50 years. Now, as Alvin is poised to continue its revolutionary scientific work, a new set of upgrades will take it deeper than ever before.

Tarpon and snook are two of Florida's most iconic game fish. Both species rely on mangrove creeks and ponds when they are juveniles. With half of the state's mangroves lost to development, scientists employ creative solutions to restore…

The humpback whale population that migrates between Hawaii and Alaska is considered a conservation success story. When sightings of the animals suddenly dropped, people became concerned. Scientists in both locations are trying to…

How does the body size and overall health of humpback whales change across their migratory cycle? A team of researchers studying the animals, which spend part of the year feeding in Alaska and a few months fasting while in their Hawaiian…

Kelp forests have played an essential role in the Puget Sound ecosystem for thousands of years. Today, kelp is in decline. Experts work against time to conserve and restore them.

Florida's iconic sea cows are dying in record numbers. Years of declining seagrass beds have eliminated one of the gentle giants' primary food sources. Now wildlife managers have taken the unprecedented step of feeding the animals, while…