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Home > Regions

Alaska

Overview Science Fisheries Protected Marine Life Habitat Species

Alaska

Alaska Fisheries Management and Marine Life Protection
Learn about NOAA Fisheries' work in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea.

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.

More Information

  • Alaska Geographic Strategic Plan
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Jobs and Internships
  • Alaska Fisheries Science Center Publications

About Us

  • Alaska Regional Office
  • Alaska Fisheries Science Center
  • Alaska Best Scientific Information Available

Follow Us

@NOAAFisheriesAK
NOAA Fisheries Alaska

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. 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
Fish swimming up river 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. 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
A Pacific halibut on the seafloor in the Gulf of Alaska. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Feature Story

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

Alaska
View More News

Notices & Rules

Protected Resources

Notification of receipt of petition for rulemaking

Alaska
Alaska
Protected Resources

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

Alaska
Alaska
Fisheries

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

Alaska
Alaska
Fisheries

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

Alaska
Alaska
Protected Resources

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

Alaska
Alaska
More Fisheries Notices & Rules
More Protected Resources Regs & Actions

Bulletins

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
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
Alaska

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

Alaska
Alaska

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

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
Alaska
More Bulletins

Open Funding Opportunities

Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program Funding

National
National

Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities

National
National
More Opportunities

Featured Highlights

Whale swimming in the ocean. 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

Alaska Marine Life and Ecosystem Science
The Alaska Fisheries Science Center supports the sustainable management and conservation of marine life. Find scientific reports and research program information.

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

  • Age and Growth Research
  • Alaska Fish Research Surveys
  • Alaska Fisheries Science Center Interactive Data Maps
  • Assessing Alaska Fish Stocks
  • Crab Stock Assessments
  • Genetics Research
  • Groundfish Stock Assessments
  • Fish Age Determination Tool

Fisheries Monitoring (Observer Program)

  • North Pacific Observer Program
  • Observer Deploy and Declare System
  • Observer Training Schedule
  • Observer Fee Collection and Payment
  • Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis
  • Electronic Monitoring
  • North Pacific Observer Program Contacts
  • North Pacific Annual Sampling Manual

Marine Mammal Science

  • Alaska Marine Mammal Field Work
  • Passive Acoustics
  • Beluga Whales
  • Harbor Seals
  • Ice-Associated Seals
  • Northern Fur Seals
  • North Pacific Right Whales
  • Steller Sea Lions

Ecosystem Science

  • Alaska Economic and Social Science Research
  • Alaska Climate Integrated Modeling Project
  • Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment
  • Ecosystem and Recruitment Processes Research
  • Ecosystems and Ecology Research
  • Ecosystem Status Reports
  • Habitat Research
  • Recruitment Energetics and Coastal Assessment

More Information

  • National Overview: Science & Data
  • Alaska Fisheries Science Center Divisions and Programs
  • Research in Alaska
  • Alaska Fisheries Science Center Publications
  • Questions and Answers: Partial Coverage Observer Program Reintroduction
  • NOAA Live! Alaska
  • Alaska Fisheries Science Center Strategic Science Plan 2023-2027

Science News & Blogs

Feature Story

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

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
A pod of killer whales swim through the water off the coast of Alaska A pod of killer whales. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Feature Story

New Evidence of Marine Heatwave Impacts on Western Alaska Chum Salmon

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
Fish swimming up river Chum salmon swimming upriver. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Stori Oates
Feature Story

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

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
Whale swimming in the ocean. A previously unidentified eastern North Pacific right whale spotted in September 2023. Credit: NOAA Fisheries and International Whaling Commission/ Bernardo Alps, WildSea Inc.
Feature Story

Advancing Transparency in Fisheries Monitoring and Enforcement

Feature Story ,
Alaska
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
Feature Story

Canopy Kelp Forests Persist in Coastal Alaska Despite Century of Climatic and Ecosystem Change

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
Aerial view of the ocean with kelp forests Aerial photograph of a kelp forest apparently aligned with predominant currents. The aquamarine color of the water probably indicates proximity to glacial outwash. Alaska, Icy Strait. Credit: Alaska ShoreZone Program NOAA/NMFS/AFSC; Courtesy of Mandy Lindeberg, NOAA/NMFS/AFSC
More News

Sustainable Fisheries

Alaska Commercial, Recreational, and Subsistence Fishing Resources
Find permits, reporting forms, rules, and regulations for Alaska's commercial, recreational, and subsistence 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

  • Permits, Applications, and Forms
  • Catch Share and Limited Access Programs
  • Groundfish
  • Halibut and Sablefish
  • Crab
  • Salmon
  • Scallop
  • Forage Species, Grenadiers, Sculpins, and Squids

Recreational (Sport) Fishing

  • Unguided Sport Halibut Fishing
  • Guided Sport Halibut Fishing
  • Applications and Reporting Forms
  • Guided Angler Fish (GAF) Program
  • Charter Halibut and GAF Permits Issued
  • Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan
  • Charter Halibut Limited Access Program
  • State of Alaska Sport Fisheries: Salmon, Rockfish, Lingcod, Shellfish, Freshwater Fish

Subsistence Fishing

  • Permit Applications and Reporting Forms
  • Frequently Asked Questions about the Subsistence Halibut Program
  • How to Replace or Renew a SHARC
  • Online SHARC Renewal (eFISH)
  • Permits and Licenses Issued
  • Subsistence Halibut Program

Resources and Programs

  • Online Services (eFISH, eLandings)
  • Federal Fishing Permits and Licenses Issued in Alaska
  • Restricted Access Management
  • Fisheries Reports
  • North Pacific Observer Program
  • Monitoring and Reporting
  • Bycatch Reduction
  • Cost Recovery Programs and Fee Payment

More Information

  • Rules and Notices Open for Comment
  • Regulations, Acts, and Treaties
  • Figures, Maps, Boundaries, Regulatory Areas, and Zones
  • Fishery Management Plans and Amendments
  • Federal Fishing Seasons in Alaska
  • Fisheries Analyses
  • Tribal Consultation
  • Contact Information

Fisheries News

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
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
Alaska

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

Alaska
Alaska

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

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
Alaska
More News

Protected Marine Life Overview

Alaska Marine Life Conservation and Recovery Resources
We protect, conserve, and manage Alaska's protected marine mammals, fish, invertebrates, and sea turtles. Find information on our protected species programs.

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

  • Proposed Actions Open for Public Comment
  • ESA Species and Critical Habitat Mapper Web Application
  • ESA Species Directory
  • Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate Species in Alaska
  • ESA Section 7 Consultations
  • Non-Marine Mammals Reviewed for ESA Listing

Protecting Marine Life

  • Marine Mammal Stranding Program (Stranding Hotline: (877) 925-7773)
  • Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines
  • Entanglement and Marine Debris
  • Alaska Oil Spill Response Guidance
  • Co-Management
  • Permits and Authorizations
  • Bycatch
  • Marine Mammal Observer Program

Pinnipeds

  • Harbor Seals
  • Ice Seals: Bearded
  • Ice Seals: Ribbon
  • Ice Seals: Ringed
  • Ice Seals: Spotted
  • Northern Fur Seals
  • Steller Sea Lions

Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises

  • Beluga Whale
  • Humpback Whale
  • Bowhead Whale
  • Killer Whale
  • Gray Whale
  • North Pacific Right Whale
  • More Whale Species
  • Dolphin and Porpoise Species

More Information

  • Marine Mammal Stranding Program (Stranding Hotline: (877) 925-7773)
  • Buying or Finding Marine Mammal Parts and Products
  • Stock Assessments
  • Marine Mammal Research
  • Funding Opportunities
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Managed Species: Walrus, Sea Otters, Polar Bears
  • Laws and Policies
  • Contact Information

Marine Life News

Feature Story

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

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
A pod of killer whales swim through the water off the coast of Alaska A pod of killer whales. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Feature Story

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

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

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

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
Whale swimming in the ocean. A previously unidentified eastern North Pacific right whale spotted in September 2023. Credit: NOAA Fisheries and International Whaling Commission/ Bernardo Alps, WildSea Inc.

FY 2024 Received Prescott Grant Proposals

Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Feature Story

NOAA Announces Confirmed Large Whale Entanglement Numbers in 2021

Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
An entangled North Atlantic right whale, Snowcone (known individual #3560), and her calf An entangled North Atlantic right whale, Snowcone (known individual #3560), and her calf. Snowcone was first documented as entangled in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts in March 2021. Snowcone was then documented with a calf during an aerial survey on December 2, 2021 near Cumberland Island, Georgia. Credit: Georgia Department of Natural Resources; NOAA Permit No. 20556
More News

Habitat Conservation

Alaska Habitat Conservation and Restoration Resources
We conserve Alaska's habitats to boost fish populations, recover threatened and endangered species, and support communities. Find information on our programs.

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

  • EFH Descriptions and Identification
  • EFH Consultations
  • Environmental Consultation Organizer (ECO)
  • Frequently Asked Questions about EFH
  • EFH Policy and Directives
  • EFH 5-Year Review
  • EFH Omnibus Fishery Management Plan Amendments

Resource Tools

  • Alaska EFH Mapper
  • National EFH Mapper
  • ShoreZone Coastal Images and Maps
  • Nearshore Fish Atlas
  • Habitat Conservation Area Maps
  • Pacific Salmon Freshwater EFH in Alaska
  • Oil Spill Risk Analysis Calculator

Habitat Programs

  • Aquatic Invasive Species
  • Hydropower Project Review
  • Fish Passage
  • Analyzing Risk to Improve Oil Spill Planning and Response
  • Annual Report of Division Accomplishments

Habitat Restoration

  • Habitat Research in Alaska
  • NOAA Habitat Blueprint: Kachemak Bay, AK, Habitat Focus Area
  • How We Restore

More Information

  • National Overview: Habitat Conservation
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Contact Information

Habitat News

Feature Story

National Fish Habitat Partnership’s 2023 Waters to Watch Projects Feature Coastal Habitats

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Pacific Islands
West Coast
National
Alaska
Pacific Islands
West Coast
National
Two people hold either end of a net in a clear rocky stream Fisheries surveys in the Mid-Klamath watershed help to answer questions around fish movement and habitat use to inform restoration efforts. Credit: Mid Klamath Watershed Council.
Podcast

NOAA VetCorps: Creating Jobs for Veterans

Podcast ,
Alaska
West Coast
National
Alaska
West Coast
National
A person in waders in the water checking crab traps. Veteran intern Antonio Jones at an oyster farm in Drayton Harbor, Washington, checking traps for European Invasive Green Crab. Credit: Northwest Straits Commission
Feature Story

Alaska Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Research to Shed Light on Resilience of Living Fish Habitat

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
Orange coral at the bottom of the ocean Deep-sea coral and sponge community in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Podcast

Seaweed: The Miracle Macroalgae with Major Economic and Environmental Value

Podcast ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
National
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
National
Two aquaculture workers pull a line of kelp out of the water and into their boat, on Seagrove Kelp Co's farm site. Buoy markers are present on the water's surface. Sustainably grown, organic Alaskan kelp is harvested at the Seagrove Kelp Co. farm in Doyle Bay. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jordan Hollarsmith
Feature Story

Summer Expeditions will Explore Widespread Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Communities in Alaska

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
Dozens of small silvery fish surround bright orange coral Juvenile pollock surround a red tree coral in Glacier Bay National Park in the Gulf of Alaska. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, University of Connecticut—Northeast Underwater Research, Technology and Education Center
More News

Featured Species

Alaska Managed and Protected Marine Species
Find a list of federally managed or protected fish, invertebrates, sea turtles, and mammals in the Alaska region.

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.

Side-profile illustration of white beluga whale with round, flexible "melon" head

Beluga Whale

Left-facing illustration of mostly black Humpback whale with white on underside and pectoral fins and distinctive hump on back.

Humpback Whale

drawing of stellar sea lion

Steller Sea Lion

Side-profile illustration of a brown/grayish Pacific cod fish with dark spot patterning and long chin barbell (a whisker-like organ). Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jack Hornady

Pacific Cod

Left-facing side-view illustration of Alaska pollock. Fins and top of fish is dark gray/black and fades to silver/white with tan speckled coloring. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jack Hornady

Alaska Pollock

North Pacific right whale illustration

North Pacific Right Whale

northern fur seal illustration

Northern Fur Seal

harbor seal illustration

Harbor Seal

ringed seal illustration

Ringed Seal

bearded seal illustration

Bearded Seal

Drawings of three types of salmon

Pacific Salmon and Steelhead

harbor porpoise illustration

Harbor Porpoise

View All

More Information

  • Alaska Stock Assessments
  • Ecosystem Status Reports

Species News

Feature Story

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

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
A pod of killer whales swim through the water off the coast of Alaska A pod of killer whales. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Feature Story

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

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

New Evidence of Marine Heatwave Impacts on Western Alaska Chum Salmon

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
Fish swimming up river Chum salmon swimming upriver. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Stori Oates
Feature Story

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

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

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

Feature Story ,
Alaska
Alaska
A Pacific halibut on the seafloor in the Gulf of Alaska. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
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