Gulf Coast

A person sits in a kayak on the water.

Good News from the Gulf

NWF’s Gulf program has made great strides since its beginning over a decade ago, and 2023 was no exception. As we close out this year, join us in celebrating achievements … Read more

A gray manatee floats just above the ocean floor.

Manatees and Meadows: The Remarkable Seagrass Habitats of the Florida Panhandle

If you live in Escambia, Santa Rosa, or Okaloosa County, you may have seen us at a boat ramp or fishing pier giving out polarized sunglasses and talking to anyone … Read more

Rice's whale surfacing

Meet the New Species of Endangered Whale Discovered in the Gulf of Mexico

A new-to-us species of whale has been discovered off of Florida’s coast in the Gulf of Mexico — an exciting and unique find for researchers. The Rice’s whale, as it’s … Read more

Ten Years After the BP Oil Spill, Restoration Offers Hope for the Gulf

This blog post is co-authored with colleagues from National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, and Ocean Conservancy. On April 20, 2010, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil … Read more

Estuaries Benefit from 20 New Projects to Restore the Gulf of Mexico

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill devastated wildlife and ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. In an effort to restore the area, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation just announced … Read more

Restoring the Gulf by Protecting the Coast

The recent addition of 470 acres to Alabama’s Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is a perfect example of how Deepwater Horizon restoration dollars can make a difference for wildlife. Read more

A Storm of Controversy Over A Hurricane Protection Plan in Texas

More than six million people call the greater Houston metro area home. The busy Houston Ship Channel supports the nation’s largest petrochemical complex. If a powerful hurricane made landfall here, … Read more

Wins for Water and Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle

The Apalachicola region in Florida has two recent reasons to celebrate, thanks to one landowner and five Supreme Court justices. Donation to a National Wildlife Refuge Last month, a landowner … Read more

Hurricane Season is Here: Preparing our Coast for the Future

Subtropical Storm Alberto just drenched much of the southeast, killing at least four people. Significant storms before the official start of hurricane season seem to be becoming less and less … Read more

A Wild Year for the Whooping Crane

The whooping crane is one of North America’s most majestic birds. Standing five feet tall, with a seven-foot wingspan, the bird’s snow white plumage, black legs, and red spot on … Read more