Oyster reefs are vital to a healthy Chesapeake Bay. Oysters help clean the water and provide important habitat for other species. NOAA and partners are committed to restoring oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay.
Amendment 28 protects groundfish habitat, cold water reefs, and deep-water ecosystems, relaxes some fishing restrictions, will increase the availability of sustainable groundfish to local West Coast communities and boost coastal economies.
Watch this video to learn how the West Coast groundfish fishery has evolved over time. Fishermen reflect on the past, present, and future of their fisheries.
Every year, NOAA Fisheries, in coordination with numerous universities and state agencies, surveys shark populations in coastal habitats along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and into the Gulf of Mexico to identify nursery habitats.
