Alaska: Nr Rum 1.260.1.min.js | NOAA Fisheries

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.

Featured News

Blue gloved hand holding three crabs on a ship

Three juvenile Bristol Bay red king crab. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.

Feature Story

New Model Predicts Where Red King Crab Bycatch Is Likely to Occur in Bering Sea Flatfish Trawl Fisheries

Alaska

A hand holding three snow crabs stacked on one another

Three snow crabs. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Feature Story

Snow Crab Collapse Due to Ecological Shift in the Bering Sea

Alaska

Scientist in orange jumpsuit and blue beanie holding a small and red crab

Feature Story

New Deputy Director for Alaska Fisheries Science Center Survey Division

Alaska

Top of whale seen from a vessel

Eastern North Pacific Right whale MML# 84 “Cuatro” (female) in the Bering Sea in August 2017. Credit: K. Matsuoka/International Whaling Commission and NOAA Fisheries

Feature Story

18 Years of Eastern North Pacific Right Whale Sightings Shed Light on Important Habitats and Movements

Alaska

Oysters being farmed by Alaska Shellfish Farms in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.

Oysters being farmed by Alaska Shellfish Farms in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Feature Story

NOAA and State of Alaska Release Summary Report for Aquaculture Opportunity Area Spatial Planning Workshops

Alaska

Fisheries

2024-2025 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications

Alaska

Alaska

Fisheries

Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Adjustments

Alaska

Alaska

Protected Resources

Incidental Take Authorization: Office of Naval Research's Arctic Research Activities (Year 7) in the Beaufort Sea and Eastern Chukchi Sea

Alaska

Alaska

Fisheries

North Pacific Observer Program - Federal Register Rules and Notices

Alaska

Alaska

Fisheries

Fee Percentage for Cost Recovery for the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program

Alaska

Alaska

2024 Belugas Count!

Sep 21, 2024

Alaska

IB 24-34: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pacific Ocean Perch by Vessels Participating in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Trawl Limited Access Sector Fishery in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Alaska

Alaska

IB 24-33: NMFS Opens Directed Fishing for Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Less than 60 Feet Length Overall Using Hook-and-line or Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Alaska

Alaska

IB 24-32: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels using Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

Alaska

Alaska

IB 24-31: NMFS Prohibits Retention of Blackspotted and Rougheye Rockfish in the Central Aleutian and Western Aleutian Districts of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Alaska

Alaska

IB 24-30: NMFS Reallocates Pacific Cod from Vessels Using Jig Gear, Trawl Catcher Vessels, and Catcher Vessels ≥ to 60 Feet (ft) Length Overall (LOA) Using Hook-And-Line Gear to Catcher Vessels < 60 ft LOA Using Hook-And-Line or Pot Gear in the BSAI.

Alaska

Alaska

Citizen Science for Improved Stock Assessments and Climate-Ready Fisheries Management

National

National

Fiscal Year 2021–2024: Broad Agency Announcement

National

National

Species Recovery Grants to States

Alaska

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Pacific Islands

Southeast

West Coast

National

Alaska

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Pacific Islands

Southeast

West Coast

National

Species Recovery Grants to Tribes

Alaska

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

West Coast

National

Alaska

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

West Coast

National

John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program

National

National

Featured Highlights

A hand holding three snow crabs stacked on one another

Three snow crabs. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Snow Crab Collapse Due to Ecological Shift in the Bering Sea

Alaska

Top of whale seen from a vessel

Eastern North Pacific Right whale MML# 84 “Cuatro” (female) in the Bering Sea in August 2017. Credit: K. Matsuoka/International Whaling Commission and NOAA Fisheries

18 Years of Eastern North Pacific Right Whale Sightings Shed Light on Important Habitats and Movements

Alaska

Landscape with a lake and hills in the distance

Alaska Equity and Environmental Justice Implementation Plan

Alaska

School of adult chinook salmon

Spring Chinook Salmon. Credit: Michael Humling, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Alaska Salmon Research Task Force

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.

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

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