INTRO

Partnerships are a mainstay of the National Marine Sanctuary Program. We work together with educators, researchers, scientists, non-profit organizations, zoos, museums, aquariums, visitor centers, and people like you to get our messages out on the airwaves. Without these partnerships, all of the wonders of the underwater worlds within our sanctuaries would remain a mystery.

Some of our more visible partners include the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Texas State Aquarium, Tennessee Aquarium and The Aquarium at Moody Gardens who all proudly display exhibits and/or information about the habitats and creatures of the Flower Garden Banks NMS. Researchers from a variety of universities, Ocean Exploration, NURC, and other institutions regularly assist us in evaluating and exploring the reaches of our sanctuary.

And, where would we be without funding!? The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Gulf of Mexico Foundation, and SeaSpace are some of our staunchest supporters in this respect.

SECRETS OF THE GULF EXPEDITION

Sometimes, one project alone can involved over a dozen partners. This was the case with the Secrets of the Gulf expedition that took March 4-9, 2007.

Primary partners in this expedition included National Marine Sanctuaries, Immersion Presents, U.S. Navy, University of Rhode Island, Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum.

Other partners and sponsors included in this expedition were the NOAA Office of Education, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Devon Energy Corporation, Dominion, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Minerals Management Service, Public Archaeology Laboratory, University of Connecticut, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Institute of Museum and Library Services and U.S. Department of Energy.