Fish are extremely diverse animals living in a variety of habitats ranging from coral reefs and kelp forests to rivers, streams, and the open ocean. Most fish can be categorized into one of two primary groups: bony fish (Osteichthyes) and cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes). The skeleton of bony fish is made of bones, while that of cartilaginous fish is made of cartilage. Cartilaginous fish include sharks, skates, and rays.
Most fish under NOAA Fisheries’ jurisdiction are marine fish that spend their entire life in salt water. Others are anadromous—like some species of salmon and sturgeon—which begin their lives in freshwater, migrate to the ocean to grow into adults, and then return to freshwater to spawn.
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the sustainable management of many species of fish under the Magnuson-Stevens Act that are targeted for human consumption and other uses like fertilizer. Some of these fish include Pacific bluefin tuna, Alaska pollock, and summer flounder. We are also responsible for protecting fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act like Atlantic sturgeon and oceanic whitetip shark.
Species News
Sixteen members of the Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation, members of the commercial fishing industry, and scientists visited Point Judith, Rhode Island, as part of a cooperative research gathering. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Heather Soulen
Feature Story
First International Cooperative Research Gathering with Scotland a Smashing Success
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Grilled teriyaki swordfish over seaweed salad, served at NOAA's 2026 Great American Fish Festival by Viking Village out of New Jersey. Credit: NOAA
Feature Story
Fire Up the Grill and Celebrate Culinary Arts Month!
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Atlantic mackerel. Credit: Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Feature Story
The Tide Has Turned: Atlantic Mackerel Shows Signs of Improvement
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Multimedia
Research
Flatfish Biology Conference
Convened by NOAA Fisheries and first held in 1986, the Flatfish Biology Conference provides researchers with an opportunity to present their findings on all aspects of flatfish research.
Surveys in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
We conduct research and monitoring surveys to better understand the physical, biological, economic, and social components of marine ecosystems found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from the Canadian Scotian Shelf to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Exempted Fishing Permits in Alaska
An exempted fishing permit is a permit issued by the Alaska Region to allow fishing activities that would otherwise be prohibited under federal regulations. These permits are issued for limited experimental purposes to support certain projects.
Cooperative Research in the Northeast
Our Cooperative Research Branch engages the fishing community to answer science questions and improve management of the region’s fisheries.
Understanding Fisheries Management in the United States
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for managing marine fisheries within the U.S. exclusive economic zone. Learn more about the sustainable management of our marine fisheries.
