Evan Howell, Ph.D.

As of May 2025, Dr. Evan Howell is performing the duties of the Director of Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor for NOAA Fisheries. In this role, he directs NOAA Fisheries' initiatives to deliver the scientific basis for sustainable fisheries and ecosystems and to advance the nation's objectives of eliminating overfishing, restoring fish populations, safeguarding critical species, and conserving essential habitats. In his capacity as Acting Director, Evan presides over the strategic planning, development, and administration of a complex scientific portfolio encompassing both fundamental and applied research. He holds oversight of NOAA's six regional Fisheries Science Centers, comprising 24 laboratories and field stations, as well as the Office of Science and Technology. Dr. Howell has held the position of Director of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology since 2020, where he led the collaborative prioritization and execution of science activities for the agency.  During his tenure there he led the redesign of the Recreational Fishing Data Collection Federal-State Partnership, the creation of a National Survey and Data Acquisition program to optimize funding and prioritization for fishery-independent surveys, and other significant projects. Prior to this, he served as the Deputy Director, a Supervisory Operations Research Analyst, and a Research Oceanographer for the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, where his work and research over a 23 year period focused on critical habitat and potential climate impacts on highly migratory and protected species within the central North Pacific ecosystem. 

Bibliography

2018

Bailey, H., Hazen, E., Mate, B., Bograd, S., Irvine, L., Palacios, D., Forney, K.A., Howell, E.A., Hoover, A, DeWitt, L., Wingfield, J., and DeAngelis, M. (2018). Lessons Learned from WhaleWatch. In A. Leidner & G. Buchanan (Eds.), Satellite Remote Sensing for Conservation Action: Case Studies from Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems (pp. 229-273). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

2017

Howell, E.A., Bograd, S.J., Hoover, A.L., Seki, M.P., and Polovina, J.J. (2017). Variation in phytoplankton composition between two North Pacific frontal zones along 158^◦W during winter-spring 2008-2011. Progress in Oceanography, 150:3-12.

Polovina, J.J., Howell, E.A., Kobayashi, D.R., and Seki, M.P. (2017). The Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front updated: Advances from a decade of research. Progress in Oceanography 150:79-85.

Hazen, E.L., Palacios, D.M., Forney, K.A., Howell, E.A., Becker, E., Hoover, A.L., Irvine, L., DeAngelis, M., Bograd, S.J., Mate, Bruce R., and Bailey, Helen (2017). WhaleWatch: a dynamic management tool for predicting blue whale density in the California Current. Journal of Applied Ecology 54(5):1415- 1428.

2016

Seki, Michael P., Howell, E.A., Oram, R, and Vandersande, M. (2016). PIFSC PARR Implementation Plan. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Honolulu, HI 96818-5007. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent. Admin. Rep. H-16-05, 28 p. doi:10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-16-05

2015

Woodworth-Jefcoats, P.A., Polovina, J.J., Howell, E.A., and Blanchard, J.L. (2015). Two takes on the ecosystem impacts of climate change and fishing: Comparing a size-based and a species-based ecosystem model in the central North Pacific. Progress in Oceanography, 138:533-545.

Howell, E.A., Hoover, A., Benson, S.R., Bailey, H., Polovina, J.J., Seminoff, J.A., and Dutton, P.H. (2015). Enhancing the TurtleWatch product for leatherback sea turtles, a dynamic habitat model for ecosystem-based management. Fisheries Oceanography, 24:57-68.

Woodworth-Jefcoats, P.A., Polovina, J.J., Howell, E.A., and Blanchard, J. (2015). Two takes on the ecosystem impacts of climate change and fishing: comparing a size-based and a species-based ecosystem model in the central North Pacific. Progress in Oceanography, Online Edition First.

2014

Bograd, S.J., Hazen, E.L., Howell, E.A., and A.B. Hollowed. (2014). The fate of fisheries oceanography: Introduction to the special issue. Oceanography 27(4):21-25

2013

Levin P.S., Kelble C.R., Shuford R.L., Ainsworth C., deReynier Y., Dunsmore R., Fogarty M.J., Holsman K., Howell, E.A., Monaco M.E., Oakes S.A., and Werner F. (2013). Guidance for implementation of integrated ecosystem assessments: a US perspective. ICES Journal of Marine Science:7pp.

Howell E.A., Wabnitz, C.C.C, Dunne, J.P., and J.J. Polovina. (2013). Climate-induced primary productivity change and fishing impacts on the Central North Pacific ecosystem and Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery. Climatic Change 119(1):79-93

2012

Baker, Jason D., E.A. Howell, and J.J. Polovina. (2012). Relative influence of climate variability and direct anthropogenic impact on a sub-tropical Pacific top predator, the Hawaiian monk seal. Marine Ecology Progress Series 469: 175-189.

Howell E.A., S. Bograd, C. Morishige, M.P. Seki, and J.J. Polovina. (2012). On North Pacific circulation and associated marine debris concentration. Marine Pollution Bulletin 65(1-3):16-22.

2011

Parrish, F.A., E.A. Howell, G.A. Antonelis, S.J. Iverson, C.L. Littnan, J.D. Parrish, and J.J. Polovina. (2011). Estimating the carrying capacity of French Frigate Shoals for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal using Ecopath with Ecosim, Marine Mammal Science 28(3) 522-541.

Polovina J.J., J.P. Dunne, P.A. Woodworth, E.A. Howell. (2011). Projected expansion of the sub- tropical biome and contraction of the temperate and equatorial upwelling biomes in the North Pacific under global warming. ICES Journal of Marine Science 68(6):986-995.

T. Hirata, N.J. Hardman-Mountford, N.J.W. Brewin, J. Aiken, R. Barlow, K. Suzuki, T. Isada, E.A. Howell, T. Hashioka, M. Noguchi-Aita, Y. Yamanaka. (2011). Synoptic relationships between surface Chlorophyll-a and diagnostic pigments specific to phytoplankton functional types. Biogeosciences 8(1):1-16.

2010

Howell E.A., P.H. Dutton, J.J. Polovina, H. Bailey, D.M. Parker, and G.H. Balazs. (2010). Oceanographic influence on the dive behavior of juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the North Pacific Ocean. Mar. Bio. 57(5):1011-1026.

Howell E.A., D.R. Hawn and J.J. Polovina. (2010). Spatiotemporal variability in bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) dive behavior in the central North Pacific Ocean. Prog. In Oceanogr. 86:81-93.

2009

Polovina, J.J., M. Abecassis, E.A. Howell, and P. Woodworth. (2009). Increases in the relative abundance of mid-trophic level fishes concurrent with declines in apex predators in the subtropical North Pacific, 1996-2006. Fish. Bull. 107:523-531

2008

Howell E.A., D.R. Kobayashi, D.M. Parker, G.H. Balazs, and J.J. Polovina. (2008). TurtleWatch: A data tool to aid in the bycatch reduction of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery. Endangered Species Res. 5:267-278

McClatchie, S., H. Dewar, S. Kohin, S. Bograd and E.A. Howell. (2008). North Pacific Highly Migratory Species. In: Climate Impacts on U.S. Living Marine Resources: National Marine Fisheries Service Concerns, Activities, and Needs. Editor: K. Osgood. NOAA Tech. Memo NMFS-F/SPO-89. 118 pp.

Polovina, J.J., F. Chai, E.A. Howell, D.R. Kobayashi, L. Shi, and Y. Chao. (2008). Ecosystem dynamics at a productive gradient: a study of the lower trophic dynamics around the northern atolls   in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Prog. Oceanogr. 77: 217-224

Polovina J.J., E.A. Howell, and M Abecassis. (2008). The ocean’s least productive waters are expanding. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L03618

2007

Baker J.D., J.J. Polovina, and E.A. Howell. (2007). Effect of variable oceanic productivity on the survival of an upper trophic predator, the Hawaiian monk seal Monachus schauinslandi Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 346: 277-283

2006

Howell E.A. and D.R. Kobayashi. (2006). El Niño effects in the Palmyra Atoll region: Oceanographic changes and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) catch rate variability. Fish. Ocean. 15(6): 477-489

Polovina, J.J., I. Uchida, G. Balazs, E.A. Howell, D. Parker, and P. Dutton. (2006). The Kuroshio Bifurcation Region: A pelagic hotspot for juvenile loggerhead sea turtles. Deep Sea Res. II 53:326-339.

Walsh, W.A., E.A. Howell, K.A. Bigelow, and M.L. McCracken. (2006). Analyses of observed longline catches of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), using generalized additive models with operational and environmental predictors. Bulletin of Mar. Sci. 79(3): 607-622

2005

Polovina J.J. and E.A. Howell. (2005). Ecosystem indicators derived from satellite remotely sensed oceanographic data for the North Pacific. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 62(3): 319-327

2004

S.J. Bograd, D.G. Foley, F.B. Schwing, C. Wilson R.M. Laurs, J.J. Polovina, E.A. Howell and R.E. Brainard. (2004). On the seasonal and interannual migrations of the transition zone chlorophyll front. Geophysical Research Letters, 31, L17204

Polovina J.J., G.H. Balazs, E.A. Howell, D.M. Parker, M.P. Seki, and P.H. Dutton. (2004). Forage and migration habitat of loggerhead (Caretta caretta)) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles in the central North Pacific Ocean. Fish. Oceanogr. 13(1): 36-51

2003

Polovina, J.J., E.A. Howell, D.M. Parker and G.H. Balazs. (2003). Dive-depth Distribution of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtles in the central North Pacific: Might deep longline sets catch fewer turtles? Fisheries Bulletin. 101:189-193.

2001

Polovina, J.J., E.A. Howell, D.R. Kobayashi, and M.P. Seki. (2001). The Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front, a dynamic global feature defining migration and forage habitat for marine resources. Prog. Oceanogr. 49:469-483.

2000

Polovina, J.J., M.P. Seki, and E.A. Howell. (2000). Sensors detect biological change in mid-latitude North Pacific. EOS 81(44):519.

1997

Howell, E.A., R.A. Fine, S.C. Doney, and D.B. Olson. (1997). Geochemical estimates of denitrification in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal during WOCE. Geo. Res. Lett. 24:2549-2552

1996

Howell, E.A. (1996). Denitrification and oxygen utilization rates in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal during WOCE. Masters Thesis. University of Miami. 84 pp.