July is Habitat Month at NOAA Fisheries! All month long, we’ll be sharing how we conserve and restore habitat to sustain our nation’s fisheries and support coastal communities.
NOAA conserves habitats like wetlands, rivers, and coral reefs to support fisheries—but habitat isn’t valuable just for the home it provides for fish and wildlife. Healthy habitats help keep our drinking water clean, protect us from storms and flooding, and support industries like boating and fishing. From jobs to seafood to tourism, coastal habitats are vital to America’s national and local economies.
Follow us here and on X (formerly Twitter) at @NOAAHabitat. You can also stay up-to-date on our latest habitat conservation stories all year long by subscribing to HabitatNews.
Habitat Features
Restoration of Florida’s Robinson Preserve Benefits Fish, Visitors, and Local Economy
Investments in the restoration of Florida’s Robinson Preserve are paying off for fish, visitors, and the local economy, according to a recent economic study and fisheries monitoring results. The 700-acre coastal preserve—once degraded farmland—now supports a healthy sportfish population, attracts about 240,000 visitors each year, and generates millions of dollars in economic activity.
Read about the NOAA-supported restoration at Robinson Preserve
The Chesapeake Bay Gets a Boost from Our Summer Interns
It’s summertime—but that doesn’t mean a vacation from learning! Four interns are spending this summer gaining experience with us and pitching in on important Chesapeake Bay-focused projects. These paid internships run for 12 weeks, giving them solid insight into a potential career path—and supporting our busy summer of work.
Meet our dynamic interns for summer 2026
Balancing Energy Production and Aquatic Resources in the Roanoke River
At the Roanoke Rapids Dam, a hydroelectric facility on the Roanoke River in North Carolina, NOAA Fisheries collaborated with Dominion Energy and partners to evaluate how adjusting the flow of water affects migratory fish and mussel populations in the river. Monitoring results are helping to ensure these aquatic organisms have the water flow and habitat they need, while maintaining robust energy production.
Learn more about this win-win for hydroelectric power generation and fish and mussel populations
Habitat Restoration Helps Put Anglers Back on the Pier, Hikers Back on the Trail
For many coastal communities, the waterfront is more than just a scenic backdrop—it’s a hub of activity where regional economies and personal well-being intersect. When environmental disasters disrupt waterfront access, NOAA restores habitat to reconnect communities to the outdoors.
Read about projects restoring recreational access to local waterways
Saving a Chesapeake Bay Watershed Marsh for Fish, Wildlife, and People
A NOAA-funded project on Virginia’s Ragged Island is restoring habitat for fish, oysters, and birds. The project will also prevent hundreds of tons of sediment and pollution from entering the Chesapeake Bay.
More about work to save a Chesapeake Bay watershed marsh
A System-Wide Effort to Restore Florida’s Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon Council and partners are carrying out 15 projects across the estuary to restore seagrass, wetlands, shellfish populations, and shorelines. Restoring the Indian River Lagoon will not only benefit fisheries and improve water quality, it will also support the local economy.
Dive into our 4-part series about restoring the Indian River Lagoon
NOAA-Funded Research Highlights Economic Effects of Oyster Reef Restoration
Scientists at Morgan State University forecast that restored oyster reefs—especially when paired with eelgrass recovery—boost habitat, blue crab harvest, and the economy. Oyster reefs provide habitat and food for commercially important species, including blue crabs. More healthy reef habitat means more blue crabs are available for harvest and for your dinner table. That provides financial benefits to watermen and supporting industries along the way.
Learn more about how restored oyster reefs help support local economies
Restoring Alabama’s Lower Perdido Islands to Protect Wildlife and Coastal Communities
After years of erosion and storm damage, NOAA and partners are restoring Robinson and Walker Islands to protect fish and bird habitat and strengthen natural defenses along the coast.
Read about how partners are rebuilding the Lower Perdido Islands
Restoring Habitat for Great Lakes Fish at the Historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate
NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation has established a unique partnership with Ford House, the historic 1920s estate of Eleanor and Edsel Ford. Together, they are restoring shoreline habitat for fish and other wildlife on Michigan’s Lake St. Clair.
Learn about how the project is rebuilding shoreline habitat for fish and other wildlife
Habitat 101
Coastal Wetland Habitat
Wetlands are a pivotal part of the natural system, providing tremendous benefits for coastal ecosystems and communities. They provide us with clean water, flood protection, abundant fisheries, and more.
Learn more about coastal wetlands
Shallow Coral Reef Habitat
Coral reefs are the most diverse habitats on the planet. Reefs occur in less than 1 percent of the ocean, yet are home to nearly one-quarter of all ocean species. They also provide jobs, tourism and recreation opportunities, seafood, wave protection, and more.
Learn more about shallow coral reefs
Deep-Sea Coral Habitat
You might think of corals and picture a sunny and shallow tropical reef. Yet recent advances in deep ocean exploration have revealed spectacular coral gardens in the dark ocean depths, beyond the reach of sunlight. These unique corals and sponges thrive in the largest yet least known environment on Earth: the deep sea.
Learn more about deep-sea coral habitat
Estuary Habitat
Estuaries are bodies of water where rivers meet the sea. They provide homes for diverse wildlife, including popular fish species. They also support recreation, jobs, tourism, shipping, and more.
Oyster Reef Habitat
Oysters are a crucial component of global ocean health. These animals filter and clean the surrounding water and provide habitat, food, and jobs. Today, however, oyster populations are at historic lows. NOAA works with partners to restore oysters and regain the critical ecosystem functions they provide.
