January 24, 2025 — San Diego scientists are collecting samples of ash from California’s coast to measure how toxins and urban debris from the Los Angeles wildfires could affect nearby fisheries and the food webs of local ecosystems.
Federal fisheries study finds new climate-resilient genetic diversity in crab stocks
January 21, 2025 — Results of new genetic research on Alaska red king crab stocks – included in the depressed Gulf of Alaska fishery – suggest the species has previously undetermined genetic diversity, making these crab more resilient to climate change.
Researchers at the NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Fisheries Science Center collaborated with Cornell University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on the study involving whole genome sequencing data on red king crab across Alaska.
The benefit of genome sequencing over previous methods is that it’s akin to reading the full story of an organism’s makeup rather than just a chapter or two, said the study report released on Jan. 2.
Red king crab inhabit diverse environments, from coastal bays in the north to open sea shelves in the Bering Sea, as well as small bays and fjords fed by glacial melt in the Gulf of Alaska and Southeast Alaska. This environment generally includes the Gulf of Alaska, Southeast Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, the Eastern Bering Sea, Norton Sound and the Chukchi Sea. Scientists previously hypothesized that king crab in these regions are divided into three genetic groups: Gulf of Alaska/East Bering Sea, Southeast Alaska, and Aleutian Islands/Norton Sound.
Five SoMAS Research Projects Receive Funding from New York Sea Grant
January 21, 2025 –New York Sea Grant (NYSG) has awarded approximately $2.15 million to support 10 research projects — five of which are based at Stony Brook University — that will directly address multiple high-priority community, economic and environmental objectives.
The two-year projects — administered by NYSG and funded through the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sea Grant’s federal parent agency, represent a range of stakeholder-driven topics to benefit residents across a number of New York’s coastal geographies.
Below are the five Stony Brook research projects that will receive funding.
Lead PIs: Michael Doall, Associate Director for Bivalve Restoration, and Christopher Gobler, Endowed Chair of Coastal Ecology and Conservation, Distinguished Professor, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS)
To help ensure the future viability of shellfisheries in New York, researchers are conducting analyses to characterize the dynamics of past, present, and future temperature and dissolved oxygen in New York estuaries and identify ideal and inhibitory locations across New York for each species, allowing managers, fishers, and aquaculturists to prepare for future change.
Four-Month Survey Tracking West Coast Marine Mammals Finds Some Shifting North
January 17, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries scientists have completed a 4-month, roughly 4,500-nautical-mile, survey of marine mammals and seabirds off the U.S. West Coast. They collected a trove of some of the most thorough data and biological samples ever on West Coast whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals.
Researchers also saw immense schools of dolphins, an unusual number of sei whales, and rare seabirds. Scientists said several marine mammal species appear to have shifted north along the coast compared to earlier surveys. That change may reflect their response to marine heatwaves and other ecosystem changes that have become common off the West Coast in the last decade.
“We’re definitely seeing things farther north,” said Jeff Moore, chief scientist of the marine mammal survey led by NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center. He said the survey spotted striped dolphins off the Oregon and Washington coasts, beyond their more typical range in California’s warmer waters. The species may be following their preferred water temperatures and prey.
Details from the survey help inform marine mammal stock assessments required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and decisions on fishing seasons and areas. We also use the data collected by surveys to help assess the risk fisheries and other activities may pose to the protected species. Expanding the number and types of platforms these observations are taken from will ultimately lead to greater efficiencies in how we conduct these surveys.
NOAA Helps Students and Educators Dive into Environmental Education
January 16, 2025 — NOAA has awarded 16 new projects nearly $1.4 million in Fiscal Year 2024 funding as part of the Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program. These projects are located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C.; some will touch the entire region.
Students and teachers around the Chesapeake Bay watershed will benefit from these outstanding programs. This year’s new grants support projects to help school districts deliver Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences. MWEEs combine outdoor and classroom learning to help students investigate local environmental issues. They lead to students taking informed action, increase school districts’ capacity to deliver environmental education, and support statewide environmental literacy initiatives.
In addition, almost $1.3 million will support 15 continuing projects in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania, enabling nonprofit organizations and universities to partner with school districts to implement Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences that will reach more than 15,000 students and 300 teachers.
Underexploitation of Fish Stocks: A Greater Threat to Food Security than Overfishing
January 15, 2025 — A groundbreaking study published by researchers at the University of Washington has unveiled fresh insights into the effectiveness of global fisheries management, challenging conventional assessments that focus solely on overfishing. The research, led by Dr. Ray Hilborn, suggests that underexploitation of fish stocks is a far more significant contributor to lost food potential than overfishing. This discovery is central to the study’s introduction of a novel metric—the Commercial Fisheries Food Production Index (CFFPI)—designed to assess the ability of fisheries to maximize sustainable food production.
Key Findings: Underutilization of Fish Stocks
The study evaluates fisheries across 19 data-rich nations and five regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). These nations include Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Morocco, Peru, Russia, Japan, and Turkey. The European Union is analyzed separately for its Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, while sub-Saharan Africa is also included. Among the RFMOs studied are the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT).
The study reveals that current management practices capture only 77% of the combined maximum sustainable yield (MSY) from fish stocks. Notably, the research attributes 86% of the unrealized food production to insufficient fishing pressure, while overfishing accounts for a mere 14%.
Among international fisheries, the pattern is consistent: the majority of lost potential stems from underexploitation, not overfishing. These findings challenge traditional methods of evaluating fisheries performance, which prioritize preventing overfishing without adequately addressing opportunities to sustainably increase food production.
Introducing the CFFPI
To provide a more holistic assessment, the researchers developed the CFFPI. This index evaluates the long-term food production achievable from fisheries under current management compared to their maximum potential. Unlike conventional metrics focused on stock abundance, the CFFPI emphasizes fishing pressure as the critical variable for maximizing sustainable food production.
By using the CFFPI, the researchers identified that many countries could significantly increase their food production by targeting underexploited stocks, although this may require balancing other objectives such as environmental conservation and employment.
Broader Implications for Fisheries Policy
The study underscores the need to expand fisheries assessments beyond the commonly reported metrics of overfished stocks. While avoiding overfishing remains essential, the researchers argue that increasing fishing pressure on underexploited stocks offers a path to achieving higher sustainable yields. However, implementing such changes will require careful alignment with national and international goals, including ecological sustainability and economic priorities.
The analysis also highlights stark differences in management effectiveness among countries. Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway scored highly on the CFFPI, reflecting their focus on optimizing yields. In contrast, nations like the United States and Australia, often praised for their strong environmental laws, showed lower CFFPI scores due to precautionary policies that maintain low fishing pressure to avoid ecological risks.
A Call for Holistic Evaluation
The researchers conclude by advocating for the adoption of the CFFPI as a standard measure in fisheries management evaluations. Dr. Hilborn emphasizes that the index provides a more nuanced understanding of fisheries performance, accounting for the trade-offs inherent in managing marine resources for food production, environmental health, and socio-economic benefits.
“Simply reporting the proportion of stocks overfished or subject to overfishing, as is commonly done, does not, by itself, provide an adequate basis for decision-making when fisheries management has multiple objectives,” the authors state.
As global food security challenges intensify, this study provides a critical framework for optimizing fisheries management. By adopting tools like the CFFPI, policymakers can ensure that fisheries fulfill their potential as vital contributors to sustainable food systems while balancing ecological and social priorities.
Optics Technology: At the Heart of Marine Research
January 15, 2025 — At NOAA Fisheries, optics technology plays a major role in gathering data to better understand our marine and coastal ecosystems. Optics uses tools such as advanced underwater cameras to generate video and images that scientists use to better understand biodiversity and track the behavior of species.
To collect data, many surveys have traditionally relied on securing time on a NOAA ship. Researchers typically sail to the area where the survey is taking place, but they are limited to collecting data in areas the ship can navigate. Ship time can be very costly, and researchers must plan their efforts around the time of year the ship is available.
Optics increases our capacity to help gather this same data by using video and image data instead of human observation. This is particularly helpful in the deepest parts of the ocean, which can be difficult to access due to a lack of light and extreme pressure. We are able to “see” the underwater ecosystems we protect while ensuring safer operations. Incorporating this information into our research provides a richer understanding of precious marine resources.
The findings have a direct impact on management decisions for habitat and species conservation. In warmer climates, we use optics to survey corals in the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program. In science centers across the country, we use remote underwater video cameras to identify marine resources.
In colder climates such as remote locations of Alaska, we identify marine mammals with drone footage and infrared optics. And in Antarctica, we attach cameras to autonomous underwater vehicles such as gliders to gather information on krill and plankton.
The rise and fall of genetically engineered salmon
January 15, 2025 — After 35 years, the genetically engineered salmon saga has ended. AquaBounty has closed its genetically modified salmon production facilities after losing millions of dollars trying to market a product for which there is no demand.
The AquAdvantage fast-growing salmon was initially developed in 1989 at Memorial University in Newfoundland, and AF Protein in Fortune Bay, Prince Edward Island, Canada, initially sought to bring to it to market. I started reporting on these fast-growing test-tube babies in 2000, when AF Protein reorganized and spun AquaBounty Farms, later called AquaBounty Technologies, into the U.S.— with headquarters in Waltham, Mass. The so-called Frankenfish, may not cease to exist, but the U.S. company, AquaBounty, has ceased its efforts to market the genetically engineered fish.
Since its creation, AquaBounty has burned through millions of dollars, trying to clear all the hurdles for FDA approval—including creating 100 percent triploid fish incapable of breeding. According to C. Greg Lutz reporting in Aquaculture Magazine in 2016: “The company reported net losses of $4.3 million for 2013, following losses of $4.4 million in 2012. Losses reported for 2011 and 2010 were $2.7 million and $5.3 million, respectively.”
Technology Week: Launching into the Future with Advanced Technologies
January 14, 2025 — NOAA scientists use many technologies to collect and analyze the data needed to manage our ocean resources and habitats. These technologies help us explore remote ocean areas, study endangered species, and ensure we have the information needed to make informed decisions about management and conservation. This allows us to better manage fisheries and support our coastal communities.
Join us for Technology Week (January 13–17, 2025) as we examine some of these technologies, many of which operate with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.
How NOAA Fisheries Uses Technology
We are a leader in the use of advanced technologies, but what exactly do we use them for?
Some ocean creatures are difficult to study because they live in remote habitats or have complex life cycles. And to study unique creatures, sometimes scientists need to use unique tools. Our scientists use a range of advanced technologies to gather and analyze data and better understand the science behind healthy ecosystems and marine life. Get familiar with the technology we use to support our mission by reading the features below.
Discover the technologies used by our scientists to study marine species and the environment
Uncrewed Systems
Uncrewed systems allow us to access remote or difficult to reach places. They can be deployed aerially, on the ocean’s surface, and below the waves—supplementing traditional data collection methods and expanding our ability to conduct important research.
Microplastics found in many of Oregon’s most popular fish
January 10, 2025 — Microplastics — tiny synthetic particles shed from clothing, packaging and other sources — are prevalent in many of the fish species eaten in Oregon, per a new study.
Why it matters: Ingestion of microplastics has been linked to cardiovascular risks and other adverse health impacts.
Driving the news: Researchers at Portland State University looked to quantify how many microplastic particles were making their way into the edible tissues of commonly eaten fish in Oregon.
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