All Month
Schooling Rays & Hammerheads
Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Ray Video
- Watch Shark Video
All Month
Reef on the Road Exhibit
This traveling exhibit about the sanctuary is on display at City By the Sea Museum in Palacios, TX through May 2018.
January 1
New Years Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
January 15
Martin Luther King 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!
All Month
Schooling Rays & Hammerheads
Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Ray Video
- Watch Shark Video
All Month
Reef on the Road Exhibit
This traveling exhibit about the sanctuary is on display at City By the Sea Museum in Palacios, TX through May 2018.
February 5
Boundary Expansion Working Group Meeting
5-8 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Bldg 216, Galveston, TX
Public meeting to review & discuss proposal for sanctuary expansion. Public comment will be accepted. For more information contact Leslie.Clift@noaa.gov
February 7
Advisory Council Meeting
9 am-4 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
Meeting is open to the public and a public comment period begins at 1 p.m. For more information contact Leslie.Clift@noaa.gov
February 19
Presidents Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
February 21
Seaside Chat
Corals: More than Your Garden Variety
6:30-7:30 pm, Waterfront Pavilion at Texas A&M Galveston
Discover the differences between types of coral (hard, soft, octo, black) that we encounter in our explorations.
February 28
Seaside Chat
Okeanos Expedition 2017: Surprising Finds in the Gulf of Mexico
6:30-7:30 pm, Waterfront Pavilion at Texas A&M Galveston
Learn about interesting discoveries encountered by NOAA's ship for exploration, Okeanos Explorer, during a December 2017 expedition in the Gulf of Mexico.
All Month
Schooling Rays & Hammerheads
Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle rays school around the banks.
- Learn More
- Watch Ray Video
- Watch Shark Video
All Month
Reef on the Road Exhibit
This traveling exhibit about the sanctuary is on display at City By the Sea Museum in Palacios, TX through May 2018.
March 7
Seaside Chat
Reef Resilience: Bleaching, Mortality and Hurricanes, Oh My!
6:30-7:30 pm, Waterfront Pavilion at Texas A&M Galveston
A look at the consequences of coral bleaching, a mass mortality event, and hurricanes on our precious reefs.
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 Ray Video
- Watch Shark Video
All Month
Reef on the Road Exhibit
This traveling exhibit about the sanctuary is on display at City By the Sea Museum in Palacios, TX through May 2018.
Late May
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary toward the later part of the month.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark Video
All Month
Reef on the Road Exhibit
This traveling exhibit about the sanctuary is on display at City By the Sea Museum in Palacios, TX through May 2018.
May 9
Advisory Council Meeting
9 am-4 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
Meeting is open to the public and a public comment period begins at 1 p.m.
May 19
Get Into Your Sanctuary Day
This day is set aside for a nationwide celebration of our National Marine Sanctuaries. Stay tuned for more details...
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 28
Memorial Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark Video
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 24-28
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 now available and due by March 31, 2018. Questions? Please contact Michelle.A.Johnston@noaa.gov
June 25
Cousteau Red Hat Day
Wear a red cap today in memory of Jacques Cousteau! Celebrate Cousteau’s immense contri-butions to marine science and conservation, including the production of more than 120 documentaries, advancing the science of scuba, and promoting environmental activism.
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark Video
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark Video
All Month
Squid Aggregations
Aggregations of small squid may be noticed during coral spawning.
- Learn More
- Watch Octopus and Squid Video
- Watch Spawning Videos
August 2-5
Mass Coral Spawning
This annual event happens 7-10 days after the full moon in August. Due to the early date of the full moon, there may also be a spawn in September.
- Watch Spawning Videos
August 26-30
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 now available and due by March 31, 2018. Questions? Please contact Michelle.A.Johnston@noaa.gov
All Month
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks may be sighted in the sanctuary.
- Learn More
- Watch Shark Video
September 3
Labor Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
September 1-4
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 12
Advisory Council Meeting
9 am-4 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
Meeting is open to the public and a public comment period begins at 1 p.m.
October 8-12
Cephalopod Awareness Days
Check out these amazing mollusks and their relatives in our Mollusk Species List.
October 8
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 1
Advisory Council Meeting
9 am-4 pm, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston
Meeting is open to the public and a public comment period begins at 1 p.m.
November 12
Veterans Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
November 22
Thanksgiving Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
December 25
Christmas Day Holiday
Sanctuary offices closed.
Download 12 Days of Fishmas
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