Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Science Plan 2019–2023

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC or the Center) of the National Marine Fisheries Services (NOAA Fisheries) is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce, as detailed below.

The Center administers and conducts scientific research and monitoring programs that produce science to support the conservation and management of fisheries and living marine resources.

This is achieved by conducting research on fisheries and ocean ecosystems and the communities that depend on them throughout the Pacific Islands Region, and by dedicating efforts to the recovery and conservation of protected species.

• The Center is organized into five major divisions: Operations, Management, and Information Division (OMI)
• Science Operations Division (SOD)
• Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division (FRMD)
• Protected Species Division (PSD)
• Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)

Through cross-divisional and interagency collaboration, PIFSC annually conducts science and operational activities throughout the entire Pacific Ocean, beyond Marine Monument and U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone boundaries.

These activities are either mandated by federal regulations (e.g., Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Action (MSA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)) or driven by stakeholder and management needs.

This plan details the Center’s vision for research and monitoring activities, infrastructure, and support services that are necessary to meet NOAA Fisheries mandates, to support the needs of our partners and communities across the region, and to advance and position the Center to achieve long term goals.

As a science-based organization, creativity and innovation are central tenets to our scientific and operational successes and implicit within all the themes, foci, and targets in this plan.