All Month
Schooling Rays & Hammerheads
Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
January 2
New Years Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
January 16
Martin Luther King Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
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!
All Month
Schooling Rays & Hammerheads
Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
February 1
Seaside Chats - The Best Job Ever!
6:30-7:30 pm, Webinar
Presenter: Steve Gittings, Chief Scientist, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
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
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.
February 15
Seaside Chats - Exploring a Future Sanctuary
6:30-7:30 pm, Webinar
Presenter: Tom Bright, former Director, Texas Sea Grant
February 20
Presidents Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
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
All Month
Schooling Rays & Hammerheads
Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
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
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.
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
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.
May 4
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
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.
May 29
Memorial Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
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?
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.
June 19
Juneteenth Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
All Month
Squid Aggregations
Aggregations of small squid may be noticed during coral spawning.
- Learn More
- Watch Octopus and Squid Videos
August 8-11
Mass Coral Spawning
This annual event happens 7-10 days after the full moon in August.
- Watch Spawning Videos
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
September 4
Labor Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
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
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
October 8-12
Cephalopod Awareness Days
Check out these amazing mollusks and their relatives in our Mollusk Species List.
October 9
Columbus Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
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
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
November 10
Veterans Day Holiday Observed
Sanctuary offices closed.
November 23
Thanksgiving Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
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