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 masked Jamal Moss stands in his robe, hood, and cap to give his speech. Credit: University of Washington (used with permission by NOAA Fisheries)

Jamal Moss gives commencement speech for the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences in Seattle, WA on June 10, 2022. Credit: Matt Hagen

Feature Story

Follow Your Dreams: Words of Advice for Current Students and Recent Grads

Alaska

Responders from the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, attempt to disentangle a North Atlantic right whale. Entanglements such as this one that involve the whale’s mouth and damage the whale’s baleen are particularly problematic, as they may prevent the animal from effectively feeding and the whale may ultimately starve, even if all of the entangling gear can be successfully removed by the response team. Credit: CCS; Permit No. 18986-04.

Feature Story

NOAA Announces 2019 and 2020 Confirmed Large Whale Entanglement Numbers

Alaska

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Pacific Islands

Southeast

West Coast

National

Fishing vessels docked at Point Judith, Rhode Island

Fishing vessels in Point Judith, Rhode Island. Credit: NOAA.

Feature Story

Department of Commerce Announces 2022 Appointments to the Regional Fishery Management Councils

Alaska

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Pacific Islands

Southeast

West Coast

National

aerial shot of beluga whale swimming in icy waters in the Arctic

A beluga whale swimming in icy waters of the Chukchi Sea. Photo taken during a previous beluga whale survey. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Laura Morse

Feature Story

Survey to Count Beluga Whales in Norton Sound

Alaska

A fishing crew in Alaska rescued this green sea turtle from getting caught in a net just south of Prince of Wales Island on Aug 5, 2020. Photo credit: Ben Dolph.

Feature Story

Sea Turtles in Alaska? Yes, We Have Them In the Far North!

Alaska

Fisheries

Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program in Alaska Federal Register Rules and Notices 2004–Present

Alaska

Protected Resources

Incidental Take Authorization: United States Coast Guard's Floating Dock Extension Project at Base Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaska

Protected Resources

Incidental Take Authorization: Hilcorp Alaska LLC Oil and Gas Activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska (2022, 2023)

Alaska

Protected Resources

Designation of Critical Habitat for the Beringia Distinct Population Segment of the Bearded Seal

Alaska

Protected Resources

Designation of Critical Habitat for the Arctic Subspecies of the Ringed Seal

Alaska

IB 22-26: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska

Alaska

IB 22-25: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pollock in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska

Alaska

IB 22-24: NMFS Opens Directed Fishing for Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Alaska

IB 22-23: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels using Trawl Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

Alaska

IB 22-22: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pacific cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Alaska

Webinar: Public Comment on Draft Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy

May 24, 2022 - Jul 19, 2022

Alaska

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Pacific Islands

Southeast

West Coast

National

Summertime Tours at NOAA’s Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute

Jun 1, 2022 - Aug 31, 2022

Alaska

2022 Belugas Count!

Sep 17, 2022

Alaska

Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities

National

Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants

National

Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants

National

Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants

National

FY 2021–2023: Broad Agency Announcement

Featured Highlights

The Latest Bottom Temperatures From The Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Alaska

ilustration of a commercial long-line vessel laying out its gear.

Winter Observing On A Commercial Longline Vessel - Post #1

Alaska

Quick Look at Alaska's Climate Science Regional Action Plans for Confronting Climate Change

Alaska

EcoFOCI Cruise - Post 1

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, 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

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.