All Month
Schooling Rays & Hammerheads
Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
January 1
New Years Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
January 17
Sanctuary Anniversary
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was designated on this date in 1992. Check out "20 Things to Love" about the sanctuary!
January 20
Martin Luther King Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
All Month
Schooling Rays & Hammerheads
Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
February 5
Seaside Chats
Undersea Robotics
6:30-7:30 pm, FGBNMS Ballroom, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
Discover how remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) support seafloor research and how technology enhances our capability to capture data from the ocean’s depths.
February 12
Seaside Chats
Mysteries of Black Corals
6:30-7:30 pm, FGBNMS Ballroom, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
Find out what we've learned about black corals in the Gulf of Mexico through DNA, structure, and age studies. Hear about sample collection experiences during the 2019 telepresence trip.
February 13
Advisory Council Meeting
9 am-4 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
This meeting is open to the public with a public comment period beginning at 1 p.m. For more information contact Leslie.Clift@noaa.gov
February 17
Presidents Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
February 19
Seaside Chats
R/V MANTA, 11 Years of Service
6:30-7:30 pm, FGBNMS Ballroom, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
Learn how this multi-faceted research vessel has made a difference in ocean exploration and research in the Gulf of Mexico.
February 26
Seaside Chats
What's New in the Blue?
6:30-7:30 pm, FGBNMS Ballroom, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
See what FGBNMS staff and associates have been doing in the Gulf of Mexico this past year in terms of research, monitoring, and expansion efforts.
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
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
May 12
Advisory Council Meeting
9 am-4 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
This meeting is open to the public with a public comment period beginning at 1 p.m. 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 25
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 21-25
Lionfish Invitational I
Collection permits will be issued for a four-day lionfish research cruise on board the recreational dive charter M/V FLING.
Applications are available now and due by March 31, 2020. Questions? Please contact Kelly.Drinnen@noaa.gov
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 10-13
Mass Coral Spawning
This annual event happens 7-10 days after the full moon in August.
- Watch Spawning Videos
August 23-27
Lionfish Invitational II
Collection permits will be issued for a four-day lionfish research cruise on board the recreational dive charter M/V FLING.
Applications are available now and due by March 31, 2020. Questions? Please contact Kelly.Drinnen@noaa.gov
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark & Ray Videos
September 7
Labor Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
September 10
Advisory Council Meeting
9 am-4 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
This meeting is open to the public with a public comment period beginning at 1 p.m. 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 12
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 11
Veterans Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
November 18
Advisory Council Meeting
9 am-4 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
This meeting is open to the public with a public comment period beginning at 1 p.m. For more information contact Leslie.Clift@noaa.gov
November 26
Thanksgiving Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
December 25
Christmas Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
Download 12 Days of Fishmas
Download Holiday Poinsettia
Download Gifts from the Gardens
Visit with Elf From the Shelf