NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

In 2015, NOAA scientists went on a research expedition in the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster to continue to map the Caribbean's sprawling coral reef ecosystem, home to an amazing variety of ocean life. The science team used multibeam sonar, scientific echosounder, underwater gliders, a remotely operated vehicle, and other high-tech tools to locate previously-unknown seafloor habitats; to map out coral reefs in fine detail; and to find 'hotspots' where many species of fish gather to spawn in rhythm with the lunar cycle. Explore their findings through videos, photos, podcasts, and other information.

Working with a set of illustrated Great Lakes fish cards, students identify distinguishing characteristics of fish and use a dichotomous key to identify 10 common fish families.

Deep in the ocean exist some of the world's oldest and most mysterious sea canyons and mountains, or seamounts. Formed millions of years ago by extinct volcanoes and sediment erosion, sea canyons and seamounts are biodiversity hotspots — home to many rare and endangered species.

In this activity, students will learn how to use sampling to estimate the size of a fish population.

In this activity, students build their own fish and describe how it lives in its habitat. Students choose which type of body shape, mouth, and tail will aid in the survival of their fish in their habitat. Students can draw in scales and sensory organs if they choose.

Like all animals, fish need to survive and grow large enough to reproduce. Fish that make it to adulthood and to spawning time use a range of strategies to ensure successful reproduction. This lesson looks at the factors that go into keeping a fish species alive while examining the life cycle of Great Lakes fish.

In the U.S., we import over 80% of the seafood we eat, and half of that is farmed. This growing demand for safe, healthy seafood has prompted a revival of the fish farming industry here at home.

After selecting and analyzing fisheries data from NOAA, students develop research questions, analyze the data and draw conclusions, which are then represented visually in the form of a poster presentation and shared with the class.

Turtle excluder devices promote sea turtle conservation by allowing sea turtles to escape safely from fishing gear.

The FISHtory Project has two ways to help collect information from historic dock photos. FISH & PEOPLE: Count is an easier project where you can mark the number of fish and people in a photo. FISH: Classify is a more challenging project where you can identify four common species using a draw tool. After the common fish are marked, you will be given a list of less common fish and asked to identify the remaining fish in the photo. If you're not a fish expert, don't worry! All skill levels are welcomed and encouraged to use a given field guide to help identify fish and provide your best guess.