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Ocean and Coastal Highlights

Potential Landslides and Tsunami Hazards in Glacier Bay, Alaska

Landslide-Lamplugh Rock Avalanche Above CruiseShip

Combined conditions of recent deglaciation, relatively frequent earthquakes, steep rocky slopes, and narrow inlets make Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve susceptible to potential landslides that could generate large tsunami waves. Learn about how the USGS, NPS and partners are addressing public safety and preparedness.

Coastal Change Happens

Coastal Change Happens

Take a journey across our Nation’s coastlines through a series of interactive geonarratives that help describe how coastal change happens. USGS brings together research, applications, and communications to deliver information and tools to help reduce natural hazard risks along our coasts.

Coastal Accomplishments

USFWS CP 2019 Annual Accomplishment Statistics

The 2019 USFWS Coastal Program’s Accomplishments report highlights projects, ecosystems, and partners that leveraged $22 for every $1 funded by the USFWS for habitat conservation and management.

Addressing IUU Fishing with Geospatial Information

IUU Fishing Boat- NOAA

As one of the charter members of the Civil Applications Committee, DOI and other interagency committee members are using geospatial applications to monitor and enforce illegal, unlicensed and unreported fishing (IUUF) activities at the global scale.

Conserving Shorebirds

DOI sandpiper chick in hands

Stewardship of birds, particularly shorebirds, is an important mission for DOI. This sandpiper chick benefits from programs that focus on addressing a 37-percent decline in shorebird species over the last four decades. Learn more about how DOI works to conserve and protect shorebirds and other migratory bird species.

Explore the Deep Sea

Deep sea mapping equipment

DOI is a proud partner for exploring, characterizing and managing the deep sea resources. DOI is one of several agencies that contributed to planning documents outlining a national strategy for mapping, exploring, and characterizing the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. A collection of articles describes recent activities exploring and mapping these deep sea areas, some for the first time. These expeditions improve not only our understanding of the ocean but provide greater understanding of our planet overall.

Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico

Newly hatched Kemp’s ridley sea turtles

DOI brings together expertise and partners to fulfill the stewardship mission for sea turtles that spans the Gulf of Mexico. Read about new science discoveries, tracking technology, managing and protecting these endangered and threatened species, public education, international partnership and the dedicated staff that make it all happen.

Support for American Seafood

Salmon being cleaned

Interior has diverse roles and responsibilities that support and influence healthy American fisheries. Interior works cooperatively to manage, restore and protect critical and productive coastal wetland habitats that serve as nurseries and feeding areas for fish and other species that rely on healthy ecosystems.

Dedicated to Turtle Conservation

NPS scientist Donna Shaver during a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchling release event.

NPS scientist Donna Shaver is one of 27 national finalists for the prestigious Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal in the category of Science and the Environment. She was also one of five finalists for the People’s Choice Award.

Explore Shipwrecks On-line

A photomosaic of the Monterey shipwreck.

BOEM ‘opened’ the virtual Archaeological Museum in May 2019 with displays of video, detailed 3D models and mosaic maps of shipwrecks from the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a valuable teaching asset and will assist with collaborations worldwide.

Safe Offshore Activities

Hurricane forecast map for Tropical Storm Cristobal

Safety is BSEE’s middle name. BSEE activates the Hurricane Response Team when storms threaten offshore oil and gas facilities. The team monitors offshore operations in the Gulf and works with offshore operators and other State and Federal agencies to ensure evacuations and other operations run smoothly.

Science to Prepare for Hurricane Season 2020

Screenshot from the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Portal

The USGS works with partners and emergency managers to provide science and tools to reduce risk, protect lives and property by improving situational awareness about extreme weather, flooding and coastal change hazards.

MARES Recognized with NOPP Partnership Excellence Award

A team retrieves data from a moored MARES platform

The Marine ARctic Ecosystem Study (MARES) was recognized with the 2019 annual Excellence in Partnering Award by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) for its successful partnerships in advancing ocean sciences. BOEM coordinated and planned the MARES international, interagency, and public-private partnership, which was led by the design firm Stantec Inc.

The Sand Lance - “Quintessential” Forage Fish

A sand lance pokes its head out of the sand

The slender fish with a skinny snout can dive into sandy seabed sediments. They are a favorite food of more than 72 predators including fish, squid, seabirds, whales and other marine mammals. Their abundance is linked to many important commercial fisheries but there are critical gaps in our knowledge to help us manage them. A new report helps identify research needs.

Cold Water Corals

Alaskan bubblegum coral

These corals thrive in extremely cold waters, with little to no light, in a highly unpredictable, volcanically active ecosystem prone to frequent and intense storms. Research indicates that their health is integral to the exceptionally productive Aleutian marine environment. The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge provides a unique opportunity for scientists to observe and study relatively healthy and intact deep-sea coral communities.

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