Wetpixel member Paul Rosenblum has pointed out that NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries has published an amazing series of webinar recordings for those interested in the marine environment. Among them is a fascinating discussion about whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) with Travis Marcoux from the Hawaii Uncharted Research Collective. Please head on over and check it out!
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has posted a Virtual Dive Gallery that features 360° virtual reality images of five U.S. National marine sanctuaries. Currently featured are: The ship graveyard of Thunder Bay in Lake Huron, the Florida Keys, Gray’s Reef in Georgia, Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico, and the coral reefs around American Samoa.
NOAA has proposed that the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) be offered protection by being listed as a “threatened species”. The proposal is currently open for public consultation, with comments being solicited electronically via the Federal Register announcement. The deadline for comments is 29 March 2017. Image from Shutterstock.
NOAA is live streaming video from ROVs exploring the Marianas Trench and surrounding areas. The Okeanos Explorer is carrying out an expedition to collect baseline information and survey this largely unexplored area. The explorations is useing “teleprescence” to interpret data, with scientists in the U.S.A. standing “watches” as the video feeds are piped live from the vessel via satellite internet and providing comments as they view them.
NOAA has teamed up with the Vancouver Aquarium to capture aerial images of a group of Northern Resident orcas in British Columbia with a UAV. This population is threatened and feeds on salmon in the area, which is in itself threatened. (Photo credit: NOAA, Vancouver Aquarium.)