Featuring staff from the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Sanctuary Saturdays featuring staff from the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
A retractable banner displays flora and fauna from the Flower Garden Banks and a FGBNMS staff member chats with a group of people at a booth display instead the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid. Photos by Jennifer Lamm.

Once a month, Moody Gardens hosts Sanctuary Saturdays, an event that brings experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the public. Staff from the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary share insights on their work within the reef, as well as efforts in conservation and environmentalism.

This Saturday, March 8, the public is welcome to join us at the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid. Personnel from the FGBNMS will be discussing the corals that live off the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana as well as leading a hands-on activity. The program will be located on the lower level of the aquarium in front of the Coral Rescue Lab, where corals from the FGBNMS are housed.

Moody Gardens and NOAA staff on the surface waters above the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Galveston.
Staff from Moody Gardens and NOAA on the surface above the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
Breathing gear for underwater operations. Photo by Kerry Toorcana
Breathing gear display for underwater operations as part of a dive presentation at Moody Gardens. Photo by Kerry M. Toorcana

The program was first started in October of 2024, which has highlighted topics such as sanctuary corals, invasive lionfish, dive gear, mooring buoys, and have even celebrated the sanctuary’s 33rd birthday. Interactive activities have given visitors the opportunity to learn more about the sanctuary in a way that enhances their overall visit.

You can follow the activities at the Flower Garden Banks via social media on Facebook @FGBNMS or Instagram @flowergardnbanksnms.