Calendar

Natural Events, Community Events, Meetings and Presentations

Hammerhead shark

All Month

Schooling Rays & Hammerheads

Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

January 2

New Years Day Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

January 16

Martin Luther King Day Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.


Manta Ray M78

January 17

31st Sanctuary Anniversary

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was designated on this date in 1992. Check out "20 Things to Love" about the sanctuary!


Hammerhead shark

All Month

Schooling Rays & Hammerheads

Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


Seaside Chats graphic overlaid on a sunset over the ocean

February 1

Seaside Chats - The Best Job Ever!

6:30-7:30 pm, Webinar

Presenter: Steve Gittings, Chief Scientist, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries


Council members seated around a u-shaped table during a meeting

February 2

Advisory Council Meeting

9 am-3 pm
This meeting is open to the public and will include a public comment period. For more information contact Leslie.Clift@noaa.gov


Seaside Chats graphic overlaid on a sunset over the ocean

February 8

Seaside Chats - Reconstructing the Flower Garden Banks from the Inside Out

6:30-7:30 pm, Webinar

Presenter: Bill Precht, Director of Marine and Coastal Programs, Dial Cordy and Associates, Inc.


Seaside Chats graphic overlaid on a sunset over the ocean

February 15

Seaside Chats - Exploring a Future Sanctuary

6:30-7:30 pm, Webinar

Presenter: Tom Bright, former Director, Texas Sea Grant


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

February 20

Presidents Day Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.


Seaside Chats graphic overlaid on a sunset over the ocean

February 22

Seaside Chats - Coral Forensics in the Deep Flower Garden Banks

6:30-7:30 pm, Webinar

Presenter: Luke McCartin, Graduate Researcher, Lehigh University


Hammerhead shark

All Month

Schooling Rays & Hammerheads

Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


Hammerhead shark

Early April

Schooling Rays & Hammerheads

Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays may still be schooling around the banks in the early part of the month.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


Trash nestled in dried sargassum on a beach

April 22

Earth Day

Get out and do something nice for coral reefs and the rest of the planet!


Trash nestled in dried sargassum on a beach

April 28-May 1

City Nature Challenge

Participate in this year's City Nature Challenge by using iNaturalist to identify plants and animals you see in FGBNMS during this world-wide bioblitz. Data from the sanctuary counts as part of the Houston/Galveston region.


Whale shark

Late May

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary toward the later part of the month.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


Trash nestled in dried sargassum on a beach

April 28-May 1

City Nature Challenge

Participate in this year's City Nature Challenge by using iNaturalist to identify plants and animals you see in FGBNMS during this world-wide bioblitz. Data from the sanctuary will count as part of the Houston/Galveston region.


Sea turtle swimming

May 19

Endangered Species Day

This is a day to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and what you can do to help protect our nation's disappearing wildlife.


Council members seated around a u-shaped table during a meeting

May 25

Advisory Council Meeting

10 am-1 pm
This meeting is open to the public and will include a public comment period. For more information contact flowergarden@noaa.gov


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

May 29

Memorial Day Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.


Whale shark

All Month

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


Diver navigating over the reef

June 8

World Ocean Day

This annual Earth Day for the Ocean began in June 2003. Did you know that FGBNMS has some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world?


A hawksbill sea turtle swimming in open water

June 16

World Sea Turtle Day

This day is used to highlight the importance of sea turtles and how they are being affected by human actions.


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

June 19

Juneteenth Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.


Whale shark

All Month

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


A United States flag made from colorful sea creatures. Coneys (a type of grouper) make up the red and white stripes. Murexes (a type of snail) make up the stars.

July 4

Independence Day Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.

Download Fish Flag


Whale shark

All Month

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


Small squid in open water at night

All Month

Squid Aggregations

Aggregations of small squid may be noticed during coral spawning.
- Learn More
- Watch Octopus and Squid Videos


Small white bundles of eggs and sperm nestle atop a brain coral prior to their release.

August 8-11

Mass Coral Spawning

This annual event happens 7-10 days after the full moon in August.
- Watch Spawning Videos


Whale shark

All Month

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

September 4

Labor Day Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.


Small white bundles of eggs and sperm nestle atop a brain coral prior to their release.

September 7-10

Possible Mass Coral Spawning

This annual event usually happens 7-10 days after the full moon in August, but, due to the early date of the August full moon, there may also be a spawn in September.
- Watch Spawning Videos


Council members seated around a u-shaped table during a meeting

September 20

Advisory Council Meeting

9 am-3 pm
This meeting is open to the public and will include a public comment period. For more information contact Leslie.Clift@noaa.gov


Two Spot Octopus jetting across reef

October 8-12

Cephalopod Awareness Days

Check out these amazing mollusks and their relatives in our Mollusk Species List.


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

October 9

Columbus Day Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.


Candy Corn image made from different animal photos.

October 30

National Candy Corn Day

No snacking required! Instead, see if you can identify the animal images that make up this Candy Corn treat. Need help? Clue 1, Clue 2, Clue 3


Council members seated around a u-shaped table during a meeting

November 9

Advisory Council Meeting

9 am-3 pm
This meeting is open to the public and will include a public comment period. For more information contact Leslie.Clift@noaa.gov


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

November 10

Veterans Day Holiday Observed

Sanctuary offices closed.


Night view of mission-style building that houses sanctuary offices

November 23

Thanksgiving Day Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.


3 wrapped gifts with sealife photos on the outside

December 25

Christmas Holiday

Sanctuary offices closed.

Download 12 Days of Fishmas

Download Holiday Poinsettia

Download Gifts from the Gardens

Visit with Elf From the Shelf