Saving Seafood

A rare glimpse of a quieter ocean

August 22, 2025 — The dramatic disruption of commerce and trade caused by the COVID-19 pandemic presented scientists with an unanticipated opportunity to study the decrease of human-generated noise and its impact on ocean soundscapes.

An analysis of passive acoustic data from four sites across the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans by NOAA and Oregon State University scientists demonstrated that ocean noise levels were significantly diminished during the COVID pandemic due to the abrupt slowdown of commercial ship traffic. In a new paper published in the Nature journal npj Acoustics, scientists report that ocean noise levels decreased by as much as 2 decibels (dB), or about 30%, as compared to pre- and post-pandemic years.

“The tragic COVID pandemic provided an unexpected view of the effects of reduced shipping traffic on underwater noise,” said Robert Dziak, Acoustics Program Manager for NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory(PMEL). “Our findings can help provide a scientific basis for creating quieter marine habitats, particularly in areas important for vulnerable species.”

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

NFSC used uncrewed vessel to bolster New England fisheries survey

August 20, 2025 — The Northeast Fisheries Science Center used a DriX uncrewed vessel to complement its survey of southern New England fisheries this spring, with the small drone collecting data that would be difficult for traditional research vessels to gather.

NOAA Fisheries has promoted the use of uncrewed systems as an emerging technology that can be used to overcome several challenges to federal government fisheries surveys. Advocates say the autonomous vessels can navigate in areas where larger vessels can’t operate, such as in and around the increasing number of offshore wind developments. While those installations have threatened to disrupt NOAA Fisheries long-term data collection efforts, researchers believe drones can help fill the gaps in data collection.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

FLORIDA: Restoring Habitat, Bolstering the Economy, and Supporting Jobs in Florida

August 20, 2025 — Coastal restoration might bring to mind images of wetlands, sand dunes, and tidal marshes—but there’s another impact of this work: jobs and economic growth.

A new economic analysis shows that community-led restoration contributes broadly to local, state, and national economies. It finds that $72.5 million invested across 12 habitat restoration projects in Florida is estimated to support jobs and wages and increase both spending and economic activity. In total, more than $100 million will be added to the economy.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

Uncrewed Vehicle Helps Fill Data Gaps in Northeast’s Difficult-to-Reach Areas

August 19, 2025 — Between April 16 and May 5, 2025, a team of ocean researchers conducted the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s second DriX survey out of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The DriX operated nearly 24/7 for 20 days. It collected data to characterize fish and plankton in Southern New England, including within five wind energy areas at various stages of development. This is a step toward using this innovative technology to study and sample marine life and habitats in places that are challenging for larger research vessels to access.

“Uncrewed systems have the ability to support various stock and ecosystem assessments through data acquisition, particularly in areas that have traditionally been or are increasingly becoming challenging to sample,” explained Conor McManus, Advanced Technology Program Lead for the science center. “We are learning more about how marine ecosystems are changing while improving the technology and operations to be able to use it more expansively in the future.”

The DriX is a submarine-shaped, 25-foot-long uncrewed surface vehicle. Unlike a sub, the DriX operates entirely on the surface. The vehicle is programmed to collect data along transect lines but can correct its course to avoid objects in the water. Similar to a car’s cruise control, it is monitored by trained operators who are remotely present and can take control when necessary. DriX is a flexible platform that can carry many sensors needed to collect oceanographic data. For this survey, DriX was outfitted with:

  • Seapix multibeam sonar (150 kHz)
  • Konsberg EK80 echosounder (38, 70, 120, 200 kHz)
  • Nortek Signature 500 kHz echosounder and acoustic doppler current profiler

These instruments collected data that will help scientists identify fish and plankton fields, as well as currents and other environmental information. For example, data collected by the Seapix can be used to estimate the volume of a school of fish.

DriX and other autonomous and semi-automous vehicles can complement ship-based surveys and improve the efficiency of collecting acoustic and biological data. The DriX could help fill data gaps by working in tandem with our long-term ecosystem surveys, such as the Bottom Trawl Survey. The science center’s surveys, including the Bottom Trawl, have been consistently collecting data on fisheries, ocean conditions, and habitat from the Gulf of Maine to North Carolina for more than 50 years.

During the first week, scientists launched and accompanied the DriX aboard the R/V Gloria Michelle, a 72-foot research vessel homeported in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. They calibrated the acoustic equipment and plankton sampling systems while collecting oceanographic data in the Revolution Wind Energy Area.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

The Endangered Population of False Killer Whales in the Main Hawaiian Islands is Declining

August 15, 2025 — Three false killer whale populations occur in the waters of Hawaiʻi. There are two island-associated populations—one around the main Hawaiian islands and another around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands—and a broadly ranging pelagic population. The small main Hawaiian Islands insular distinct population segment of false killer whales was listed as endangered in 2012 and faces multiple ongoing threats. Evidence suggests—based on high rates of dorsal fin and mouthline injuries—that fisheries interactions represent one of the most significant threats to this population. This threat may also act synergistically with other threats, such as exposure to pollutants and reduced genetic diversity, on the insular population. Scientists at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center led the development of a new method to more accurately estimate the size of the main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whale population by incorporating animal movement.

We analyzed photos of dorsal fins of 202 main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whales encountered over 20 years (1999–2022) and movements from 53 satellite tags deployed from 2007–2022. We found that the population numbered 139 whales in 2022 and declined by 3.5 percent per year during the last 10 years of the study. Our findings provide the first reliable trend estimate for the population since it was listed as endangered and suggest the population will number fewer than 100 individuals within 10 years.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

2025 Coral Reef Survey Sets New Records in the Mariana Archipelago

August 7, 2025 — Scientists have returned from a 3-month expedition assessing coral reef health and ocean conditions in Wake Atoll, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The effort was part of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program. The mission, funded by the Coral Reef Conservation Program, broke previous records for the number of fish and benthic surveys completed in a single year for this region.

Each year, scientists from NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center spend several months at sea gathering long-term data to monitor changes in coral reef ecosystems. These data help scientists, resource managers, and communities conserve reefs that protect our coastlines, sustain fisheries, and power local economies.

This year’s mission took scientists, aboard NOAA ship Oscar Elton Sette, to the coral reefs of the Mariana Archipelago and Wake Atoll. Since the early 2000s, NOAA Fisheries has surveyed this region regularly, and the data collected this year will further enhance the long-term dataset. Summarized results from recent years are available through NOAA’s Data Visualization Tool, and all data can be accessed via Data.gov by searching “National Coral Reef Monitoring Program.”

Survey Study Area

Scientists traveled more than 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) from Honolulu, Hawai‘i to Wake Atoll. That’s roughly the same distance as crossing the continental United States from coast to coast! During the 10-day journey aboard Oscar Elton Sette, they prepared gear and instruments for the upcoming coral reef surveys.

Following 6 days of surveys around Wake Atoll, the ship traveled another 6 days to reach Guam. Over the next 2 months, scientists completed surveys throughout the Mariana Archipelago. They collected data critical to understanding the health and resilience of coral reefs in the region.

Islands visited in the Mariana archipelago:

  • Uracas (also known as Farallon de Pájaros)
  • Maug
  • Agrihan
  • Pagan
  • Alamagan
  • Guguan
  • Sarigan
  • Saipan
  • Tinian
  • Aguijan
  • Rota
  • Guam

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Senate budget would shrink NOAA Fisheries’ budget slightly, despite Trump administration’s demand for steep cuts

July 21, 2025 — The Republican controlled U.S. Senate is set up to reject many of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to NOAA Fisheries, proposing a slight decrease for the agency instead.

NOAA has been one of the agencies targeted by the Trump administration for cuts; during the first several months of Trump’s second term, the government has laid off hundreds of NOAA employees and rescinded much of the agency’s climate-related funding. Trump is seeking even deeper cuts, however, to NOAA Fisheries.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

MAINE: Maine Sea Grant helping state conserve Atlantic salmon

July 15, 2025 — Whether it’s through fish stocking, habitat restoration or research, the University of Maine-led Maine Sea Grant is helping the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) conserve Atlantic salmon in the Gulf of Maine — the last wild populations of the species in the U.S.

Through a program offered by Maine Sea Grant and NOAA Fisheries that is now in its sixth year, paid summer interns have been working with the department on Atlantic salmon research and conservation for 13 weeks each summer — from Downeast Maine to the Kennebec and Penobscot River watersheds. They conduct field and lab work to support this endangered species and other sea-run fishes.

“The Maine Sea Grant internship program not only supports the restoration of sea-run fish like Atlantic salmon but also fosters a two-way exchange of knowledge with the department,” said Sean Ledwin, the director of DMR’s Bureau of Sea-Run Fisheries and Habitat. “The interns learn firsthand from experienced professionals in the field, while bringing fresh energy, new ideas and capacity to vital restoration efforts. This collaboration strengthens conservation outcomes and builds the next generation of marine scientists and stewards.”

“This program emphasizes collaborations and partnerships that expose students to different career paths to help conserve vital species and support Maine ecosystems, economies and cultures,” said Julia Hiltonsmith, a UMaine Sea Grant graduate assistant who mentors sea-run fish interns. “Guiding these interns through their fieldwork has not only deepened my appreciation for the dedication they’ve brought to conservation but also reinforced the importance of fostering collaboration and professional growth in the next generation of marine scientists.”

Since the Sea-Run Fish Internship Program launched in 2020, 12 students from UMaine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, have participated and conducted research and conservation work statewide for DMR, the United States Geological Survey, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Penobscot Nation. Black Bear students, as well as participants from other universities, have gained hands-on learning experiences and professional development in science communication, which prepare them for in-demand careers in marine sciences and conservation.

Read the full article at University of Maine

NOAA Fisheries and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Announce Red Snapper Data Improvement Projects

July 11, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission announced six new partnerships and seven projects aimed at improving recreational fishing effort and discard data collection in the Gulf. This effort represents a key investment in enhancing data quality and reducing data uncertainty to support sustainable fisheries management across the region.

The projects will receive $7.5 million from the Commission. They will focus on advancing innovative methods to collect more accurate, timely, and regionally relevant data on recreational fishing activities and released catch, commonly known as discards. These projects will address known data gaps and challenges in current reporting systems. They will contribute directly to better-informed stock assessments, management decisions, and conservation strategies. We selected projects based on scientific merit, feasibility, and their potential to significantly enhance data quality across Gulf states.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries