NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation made significant progress conserving, protecting, and restoring habitat in 2022. Join us as we look back at some of the year’s most popular stories about our work and the importance of habitat for fisheries and communities.
Habitat Restoration Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law presents an unprecedented opportunity for NOAA to make an impact for fisheries, endangered species, and coastal communities. One of this year’s most-read stories highlighted funding for fish passage under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:
This living glass sponge was spotted during a 2018 cruise. This photo reveals the bright colors and textures commonly associated with the living sponge, which is usually found in small patches. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Marine Applied Research and Exploration.
Exciting Discoveries About Deep-Sea Sponges
Hundreds—even thousands—of feet beyond the reach of sunlight, the deep sea is the largest, yet least known, environment on Earth. Ongoing exploration and research continues to reveal incredible new information about the creatures that live in these habitats. Two of our most popular stories of 2022 highlighted discoveries about deep-sea sponges:
Scientists monitor a reef with healthy oysters as part of a restoration effort. Credit: Oyster Recovery Partnership.
Celebrating Habitat Throughout the Year
Our annual Habitat Month celebration focused on the role of healthy habitat in building resilience. We highlighted stories about how restoring habitat for our nation’s fisheries and protected resources can also help coastal communities recover from and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Beyond Habitat Month, we continued sharing stories about the benefits of healthy habitats—like rivers and oyster reefs—through other habitat-related celebrations.
The Mattaponi River snakes through King and Queen County, Virginia, part of NOAA's Middle Peninsula Habitat Focus Area. Credit: Chesapeake Bay Program.
A Focus on Habitat in Virginia’s Middle Peninsula
In 2022, we announced the Middle Peninsula in Virginia as NOAA’s newest Habitat Focus Area. We’re working with partners in the area at the federal, state, local and tribal levels. NOAA will work to conserve fish habitat and build the region’s ability to bounce back in the face of climate change.
Original source can be found here.
