Overview
The fish that live in the Northeast U.S. continental shelf ecosystem are responding to shifting climate conditions with changes in regional productivity and distribution. Species distribution modeling is an effective tool to study the environmental effects on the preferred habitat of a particular species. Using machine learning methods, we have constructed distribution models for several commercially important fish and invertebrate (e.g., lobster) species of the Northeast shelf. These maps show where the species is most likely to be found during the spring and fall seasons. They also show the areas where species distribution is increasing or decreasing over time.x
Atlantic hagfish
Myxine glutinosa

Atlantic hagfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom Row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Smooth dogfish
Mustelus canis

Smooth dogfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Chain dogfish
Scyliorhinus retifer

Chain dogfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Spiny dogfish
Squalus acanthias

Spiny dogfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Barndoor skate
Dipturus laevis
Learn more about barndoor skate

Barndoor skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Winter skate
Leucoraja ocellata
Learn more about winter skate

Winter skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Clearnose skate
Raja eglanteria
Learn more about clearnose skate

Clearnose skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Rosette skate
Leucoraja garmani
Learn more about rosette skate

Rosette skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Little skate
Leucoraja erinacea
Learn more about little skate

Little skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Smooth skate
Malacoraja senta
Learn more about smooth skate

Smooth skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Thorny skate
Amblyraja radiata
Learn more about thorny skate

Thorny skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic herring
Clupea harengus
Learn more about Atlantic herring

Atlantic herring distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Alewife
Alosa pseudoharengus

Alewife distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Blueback herring
Alosa aestivalis

Blueback herring distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic menhaden
Brevoortia tyrannus

Atlantic menhaden distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Bay anchovy
Anchoa mitchilli

Bay anchovy distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Offshore hake
Merluccius albidus

Offshore hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Silver hake
Merluccius bilinearis
Learn more about silver hake

Silver hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic cod
Gadus morhua
Learn more about Atlantic cod

Atlantic cod distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Haddock
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Learn more about haddock

Haddock distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Pollock
Pollachius virens
Learn more about pollock

Pollock distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
White hake
Urophycis tenuis

White hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Red hake
Urophycis chuss
Learn more about red hake

Red hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Spotted hake
Urophycis regia

Spotted hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Fourbeard rockling
Enchelyopus cimbrius

Fourbeard rockling distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Brosme brosme

Cusk distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic halibut
Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Learn more about Atlantic halibut

Atlantic halibut distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
American plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides

American plaice distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Summer flounder
Paralichthys dentatus
Learn more about summer flounder

Summer flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Fourspot flounder
Paralichthys oblongus

Fourspot flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Winter flounder
Pseudopleuronectes americanus
Learn more about winter flounder

Winter flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Witch flounder
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus

Witch flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Windowpane
Scophthalmus aquosus

Windowpane flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Gulf Stream flounder
Citharichthys arctifrons

Gulf Stream flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Smallmouth flounder
Etropus microstomus

Smallmouth flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Learn more about Atlantic mackerel

Atlantic mackerel distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Chub mackerel
Scomber japonicus

Chub mackerel distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Butterfish
Peprilus triacanthus
Learn more about butterfish

Butterfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Learn more about bluefish

Bluefish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic croaker
Micropogonias undulatus

Atlantic croaker distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Striped bass
Morone saxatilis
Learn more about striped bass

Striped bass distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Black sea bass
Centropristis striata
Learn more about black sea bass

Black sea bass distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Scup
Stenotomus chrysops
Learn more about scup

Scup distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Weakfish
Cynoscion regalis

Weakfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Spot
Leiostomus xanthurus

Spot distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Golden tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Learn more about golden tilefish

Golden tilefish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Acadian redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Learn more about Acadian redfish

Acadian redfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom Row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Blackbelly rosefish
Helicolenus dactylopterus

Blackbelly rosefish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Longhorn sculpin
Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus

Longhorn sculpin distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Sea raven
Hemitripterus americanus

Sea raven distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Alligatorfish
Aspidophoroides monopterygius

Alligatorfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Northern searobin
Prionotus carolinus

Northern searobin distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Striped searobin
Prionotus evolans

Striped searobin distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Tautog
Tautoga onitis

Tautog distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Daubed shanny
Lumpenus maculatus

Daubed shanny distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Wrymouth
Cryptacanthodes maculatus

Wrymouth distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic wolffish
Anarhichas lupus

Atlantic wolffish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Ocean pout
Macrozoarces americanus

Ocean pout distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Northern puffer
Sphoeroides maculatus

Northern puffer distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Goosefish
Lophius americanus

Goosefish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Rough scad
Trachurus lathami

Rough scad distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Shortnose greeneye
Chlorophthalmus agassizi

Shortnose greeneye distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic soft pout
Melanostigma atlanticum

Atlantic soft pout distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
American lobster
Homarus americanus

American lobster distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Jonah crab
Cancer borealis

Jonah crab distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic rock crab
Cancer irroratus

Atlantic rock crab distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Blue crab
Callinectes sapidus

Blue crab distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Lady crab
Ovalipes ocellatus

Lady crab distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Sea scallop
Placopecten magellanicus

Sea scallop distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Northern shortfin squid
Illex illecebrosus

Northern shortfin squid distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Longfin squid
Loligo pealeii

Longfin squid distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.