Alaska

Alaska's dynamic, often ice-covered seas are home to a remarkable diversity of life—crustaceans, fish, seals, sea lions, porpoises, whales, and more. Few places in the world offer such beauty and bounty. This region of nearly 1.5 million square miles includes waters in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea.

Alaska produces more than half the fish caught in waters off the coast of the United States, with an average wholesale value of nearly $4.5 billion a year. Alaska's fisheries are among the best-managed, most sustainable in the world. Alaska resources provide jobs and a stable food supply for the nation, while supporting a traditional way of life for Alaska Native and local fishing communities.

Together, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office and Alaska Fisheries Science Center help ensure the sustainability of these marine resources for generations.

A pod of killer whales swim through the water off the coast of Alaska

A pod of killer whales. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.

Feature Story

Cause of Death Determined for 11 Killer Whales Incidentally Caught in Fishing Gear in Alaska in 2023

Alaska

Laaqudan sleeping near the Aleut Community of St. Paul. Credit: Jamie Musbach/NOAA Fisheries

Feature Story

Indigenous Scientists on St. Paul Island, Alaska Work To Protect Marine Mammals

Alaska

Chum salmon swimming upriver. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Stori Oates

Feature Story

New Evidence of Marine Heatwave Impacts on Western Alaska Chum Salmon

Alaska

The humpback whale was entangled in line. Credit: Metlakatla Indian Community Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA MMHSRP Permit No. 24359

Feature Story

Large Whale Entanglement Response a Success Thanks to Metlakatla Indian Community Team

Alaska

Feature Story

NOAA Fisheries Issues Final Rule for Abundance-Based Management of Halibut in the Bering Sea

Alaska

Protected Resources

Notification of receipt of petition for rulemaking

Alaska

Protected Resources

Incidental Take Authorization: Haines Borough's Lutak Dock Replacement Project in Lutak, Alaska

Alaska

Fisheries

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Scallop Specification Process Flexibility

Alaska

Fisheries

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Cook Inlet Salmon; Amendment 16

Alaska

Protected Resources

Incidental take Authorization: Port of Alaska's North Extension Stabilization – Step 1 Project in Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska

IB 23-62: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pacific Cod by Hook-and-Line Catcher/Processors in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf Alaska

Alaska

IB 23-61: NOAA Fisheries files a final rule to implement Amendment 123 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Alaska

IB 23-60: Apportionment of the Groundfish Reserve in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

Alaska

IB 23-59: NMFS Prohibits Retention of “Other Rockfish” in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska

Alaska

IB 23-58: NMFS Reallocates Pacific Cod from Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear and Vessels Using Pot Gear to Catcher Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear and Catcher/Processors using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

Alaska

Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program Funding

National

Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities

National

Featured Highlights

A previously unidentified eastern North Pacific right whale spotted in September 2023. Credit: NOAA Fisheries and International Whaling Commission/ Bernardo Alps, WildSea Inc.

Recent Sightings of Highly Endangered Eastern North Pacific Right Whales Raise Hope for Recovery

Alaska

Landscape with a lake and hills in the distance

Alaska Equity and Environmental Justice Implementation Plan

Alaska

Image of a man in a sweater and a man in uniform shaking hands on a dock surrounded by boats

A NOAA Enforcement officer meets with a fisherman. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Advancing Transparency in Fisheries Monitoring and Enforcement

Alaska

Photo of a pair of Bering Sea snow crabs on a lab table.

Research Confirms Link Between Snow Crab Decline and Marine Heatwave

Alaska

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Our high quality research supports sustainable management and conservation of Alaska marine species with economic and cultural benefits for the nation. Alaska waters support some of the most important commercial fisheries in the world. Large and diverse populations of whales, seals, sea lions, and porpoises and Alaska native hunting and fishing communities also share these waters.

We study the health and size of marine animal populations. We also study the key areas where these animals feed, breed, and grow. To study ocean habitats, we monitor environmental conditions important to sustain marine life. For instance, we regularly monitor sea surface temperatures in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska. We analyze biological, oceanographic and ecological data collected during research surveys and by trained fisheries observers in our laboratories. From this, we learn more about marine animal diets, age, growth and reproduction, food web dynamics and the role of humans in marine ecosystems. We use this and other information to monitor changes to marine animal populations and Alaska ecosystems over time.

Fish and Crab Science

Fisheries Monitoring (Observer Program)

Marine Mammal Science

Ecosystem Science

Sustainable Fisheries

The Alaska Regional Office works with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to manage Alaska’s sustainable fisheries. Using the best available science, we work through the Council process authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to develop measures for best management of Alaska’s fisheries, considering a range of factors such as the health of the fish stocks and economic impact of fishery practices. Once fishing levels and regulations are adopted and approved, the Alaska Regional Office works to implement the Council decisions. The goal is to allow fishermen to harvest the optimum amount of fish while leaving enough in the ocean to reproduce and provide future fishing opportunities in perpetuity.

Commercial Fishing

Recreational (Sport) Fishing

Subsistence Fishing

Resources and Programs

Protected Marine Life Overview

The Protected Resources Division works to conserve and recover marine mammals in close coordination with the State of Alaska and other partners. To manage protected marine species, as required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and Fur Seal Act, the Alaska Region advances recovery of threatened and endangered species and the conservation of marine mammals, including whales, seals, and sea lions. We work to minimize interactions between marine mammals and commercial fisheries; promote responsible marine mammal viewing practices; coordinate response to stranded or entangled marine mammals; consult with federal agencies to minimize project effects on threatened and endangered species; and cooperatively manage subsistence use of marine mammals through co-management agreements with Alaska Native organizations.

Endangered Species Conservation

Protecting Marine Life

Pinnipeds

Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises

Habitat Conservation

NOAA Fisheries conducts and reviews environmental analyses for a large variety of activities ranging from commercial fishing, to coastal development, to large transportation and energy projects. Working with industries, stakeholder groups, government agencies, and private citizens, we ensure that these activities have minimal impact on essential fish habitat and marine life in Alaska. Our habitat conservation activities include protecting essential fish habitat, mitigating damage to and enhancing habitat affected by hydropower project construction and operations, removing invasive species, and restoring habitat that has been affected by development, oil spills, and other human activities. We focus on habitats used by federally-managed fish species located offshore, nearshore, in estuaries, and in freshwater areas important to migratory salmon.

Essential Fish Habitat

Resource Tools

Habitat Programs

Habitat Restoration

Featured Species

Alaska's coastal communities depend on healthy marine resources to support commercial and recreational fisheries, tourism, and the Alaskan way of life. Our mission at NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office is the science-based stewardship of Alaska’s marine resources and their habitats in the Gulf of Alaska, eastern Bering Sea, and Arctic oceans. We are responsible for supporting sustainable fisheries, recovering and conserving protected species, such as whales and seals, and promoting healthy ecosystems and resilient Alaska coastal communities.