Skip to main content
Unsupported Browser Detected

Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NOAA Fisheries emblem
Menu
  • Find A Species
      • Find a Species
      • Dolphins & Porpoises
      • Fish & Sharks
      • Highly Migratory Species
      • Invertebrates
      • Sea Turtles
      • Seals & Sea Lions
      • Whales
      • Protected Species
      • All Threatened & Endangered Species
      • Marine Mammals
      • Species By Region
      • Alaska
      • New England/Mid-Atlantic
      • Pacific Islands
      • Southeast
      • West Coast
      • Helpful Resources
      • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
      • Marine Life in Distress
      • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
      • Species in the Spotlight
  • Fishing & Seafood
      • Sustainable Fisheries
      • Bycatch
      • Catch Shares
      • Fishery Observers
      • Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing
      • Magnuson-Stevens Act
      • Research Surveys
      • Population Assessments
      • Resources for Fishing
      • Commercial Fishing
      • Recreational Fishing
      • Subsistence Fishing
      • Fishery Management Info
      • Permits & Forms
      • Rules & Regulations by Region
      • Sustainable Seafood
      • Seafood Profiles
      • Aquaculture
      • Commerce & Trade
      • Seafood Inspection
      • Related Topics
      • Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
      • Cooperative Research
      • Enforcement
      • Financial Services
      • International Affairs
      • Science & Data
      • Socioeconomics
  • Protecting Marine Life
      • Endangered Species Conservation
      • Listing Species Under ESA
      • Critical Habitat
      • Consultations
      • Species Recovery
      • Research Surveys
      • Species in the Spotlight
      • Endangered Species Act
      • Marine Mammal Protection
      • Health & Stranding Response
      • Marine Mammal Protection Act
      • Research Surveys
      • Population Assessments
      • Take Reduction Plans
      • Marine Life in Distress
      • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
      • Bycatch
      • Ocean Acoustics/Noise
      • Unusual Mortality Events
      • Vessel Strikes
      • Related Topics
      • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
      • Enforcement
      • Funding Opportunities
      • International Cooperation
      • Permits & Authorizations
      • Regulations & Actions
      • Science & Data
  • Environment
      • Ecosystems
      • U.S. Regional Ecosystems
      • Management
      • Ecosystem Science
      • Changing Ecosystems and Fisheries Initiative
      • Habitat Conservation
      • Priority Restoration Investments
      • Habitat Restoration
      • Habitat Protection
      • Types of Habitat
      • Habitat by Region
      • Science
      • Consultations
      • Climate Change
      • Understanding the Impacts
      • Climate Change Solutions
      • Regional Activities
  • Regions
      • Our Regions
      • Alaska
      • New England/ Mid-Atlantic
      • Pacific Islands
      • Southeast
      • West Coast
      • Contact Us
      • Regional Offices
      • Science Centers
  • Resources & Services
      • Rules & Regulations
      • Fisheries Rules & Regs
      • Fisheries Management Info
      • Protected Resources Regs & Actions
      • Permits
      • Fishing & Seafood
      • Protected Resources
      • International & Trade
      • Funding & Financial Services
      • Funding Opportunities
      • Financial Services
      • Prescott Grants
      • Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants
      • Habitat Restoration Grants
      • Consultations
      • Habitat
      • Endangered Species
      • Tribal
      • Science & Data
      • Research
      • Surveys
      • Data
      • Maps & GIS
      • Publications
      • Published Research
      • Key Reports
      • Documents
      • Publication Databases
      • Outreach Materials
      • Laws & Policies
      • Magnuson-Stevens Act
      • Endangered Species Act
      • Marine Mammal Protection Act
      • Policies
      • Outreach & Education
      • For Educators
      • For Students
      • Educational Materials
      • Outreach Materials
      • Teacher at Sea
      • Events
  • About Us
      • NOAA Fisheries
      • Our Mission
      • Who We Are
      • Where We Work
      • Our History
      • News & Media
      • News & Announcements
      • Bulletins
      • Multimedia
      • Science Blogs
      • Events
      • Video Gallery
      • Photo Gallery
      • Careers & More
      • Career Paths
      • Internships
      • Citizen Science and Volunteering
      • Contact Us
      • National Program Offices
      • Regional Offices
      • Science Centers
      • Our Partners
      • Regional Fishery Management Councils
      • American Fisheries Advisory Committee
      • Government Agencies
      • Non-Government Organizations
    • Find A Species
        Back
        Find A Species
          Find a Species
        • Dolphins & Porpoises
        • Fish & Sharks
        • Highly Migratory Species
        • Invertebrates
        • Sea Turtles
        • Seals & Sea Lions
        • Whales
          Protected Species
        • All Threatened & Endangered Species
        • Marine Mammals
          Species By Region
        • Alaska
        • New England/Mid-Atlantic
        • Pacific Islands
        • Southeast
        • West Coast
          Helpful Resources
        • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
        • Marine Life in Distress
        • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
        • Species in the Spotlight
    • Fishing & Seafood
        Back
        Fishing & Seafood
          Sustainable Fisheries
        • Bycatch
        • Catch Shares
        • Fishery Observers
        • Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing
        • Magnuson-Stevens Act
        • Research Surveys
        • Population Assessments
          Resources for Fishing
        • Commercial Fishing
        • Recreational Fishing
        • Subsistence Fishing
        • Fishery Management Info
        • Permits & Forms
        • Rules & Regulations by Region
          Sustainable Seafood
        • Seafood Profiles
        • Aquaculture
        • Commerce & Trade
        • Seafood Inspection
          Related Topics
        • Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
        • Cooperative Research
        • Enforcement
        • Financial Services
        • International Affairs
        • Science & Data
        • Socioeconomics
    • Protecting Marine Life
        Back
        Protecting Marine Life
          Endangered Species Conservation
        • Listing Species Under ESA
        • Critical Habitat
        • Consultations
        • Species Recovery
        • Research Surveys
        • Species in the Spotlight
        • Endangered Species Act
          Marine Mammal Protection
        • Health & Stranding Response
        • Marine Mammal Protection Act
        • Research Surveys
        • Population Assessments
        • Take Reduction Plans
          Marine Life in Distress
        • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
        • Bycatch
        • Ocean Acoustics/Noise
        • Unusual Mortality Events
        • Vessel Strikes
          Related Topics
        • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
        • Enforcement
        • Funding Opportunities
        • International Cooperation
        • Permits & Authorizations
        • Regulations & Actions
        • Science & Data
    • Environment
        Back
        Environment
          Ecosystems
        • U.S. Regional Ecosystems
        • Management
        • Ecosystem Science
        • Changing Ecosystems and Fisheries Initiative
          Habitat Conservation
        • Priority Restoration Investments
        • Habitat Restoration
        • Habitat Protection
        • Types of Habitat
        • Habitat by Region
        • Science
        • Consultations
          Climate Change
        • Understanding the Impacts
        • Climate Change Solutions
        • Regional Activities
    • Regions
        Back
        Regions
          Our Regions
        • Alaska
        • New England/ Mid-Atlantic
        • Pacific Islands
        • Southeast
        • West Coast
          Contact Us
        • Regional Offices
        • Science Centers
    • Resources & Services
        Back
        Resources & Services
          Rules & Regulations
        • Fisheries Rules & Regs
        • Fisheries Management Info
        • Protected Resources Regs & Actions
          Permits
        • Fishing & Seafood
        • Protected Resources
        • International & Trade
          Funding & Financial Services
        • Funding Opportunities
        • Financial Services
        • Prescott Grants
        • Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants
        • Habitat Restoration Grants
          Consultations
        • Habitat
        • Endangered Species
        • Tribal
          Science & Data
        • Research
        • Surveys
        • Data
        • Maps & GIS
          Publications
        • Published Research
        • Key Reports
        • Documents
        • Publication Databases
        • Outreach Materials
          Laws & Policies
        • Magnuson-Stevens Act
        • Endangered Species Act
        • Marine Mammal Protection Act
        • Policies
          Outreach & Education
        • For Educators
        • For Students
        • Educational Materials
        • Outreach Materials
        • Teacher at Sea
        • Events
    • About Us
        Back
        About Us
          NOAA Fisheries
        • Our Mission
        • Who We Are
        • Where We Work
        • Our History
          News & Media
        • News & Announcements
        • Bulletins
        • Multimedia
        • Science Blogs
        • Events
        • Video Gallery
        • Photo Gallery
          Careers & More
        • Career Paths
        • Internships
        • Citizen Science and Volunteering
          Contact Us
        • National Program Offices
        • Regional Offices
        • Science Centers
          Our Partners
        • Regional Fishery Management Councils
        • American Fisheries Advisory Committee
        • Government Agencies
        • Non-Government Organizations

Science & Data

Science By Region

Science By Region

  • Alaska
  • New England/Mid-Atlantic
  • Pacific Islands
  • Southeast
  • West Coast - Northwest
  • West Coast - Southwest
Data & Maps

Data & Maps

  • Databases
  • Maps & GIS
  • Metadata Catalog
  • Research
  • Survey Results
Stock Assessments

Stock Assessments

  • Alaska
  • New England/Mid-Atlantic
  • Southwest and Antarctic
  • Marine Mammals

Science & Data

NOAA Fisheries' science-based conservation and management of sustainable fisheries, marine mammals, endangered species, and their habitats have become global models for marine stewardship and sustainability.

Our research surveys provide data critical to the stewardship of our nation's ocean resources and their habitat. For 150 years, our scientists and partners have collected survey data to understand current and changing ocean conditions and monitor marine life. The insights we gain are the heart of our science-based conservation and management. 

Effective science-based conservation and management are essential to ensuring sustainable domestic seafood production, maintaining and enhancing fishing opportunities, recovering protected species, and safeguarding ecosystem health.

More Research Topics

Acoustics Age and Growth Climate Ocean Acidification Research and Data

More Information

  • Research Surveys: How We Collect Data
  • Advanced Technologies
  • Data.gov
  • NOAA's Integrated Ecosystem Assessment
  • NOAA Fisheries' Science Board
  • Publication Databases
  • Published Research
  • NOAA Scientific Integrity Policy

Featured News

Nine Species of Deep-Sea Sponges Discovered in Alaska

One sponge species is so unique that scientists created an entirely new genus to classify it. Another represents a group never seen before outside of the tropics.
September 10, 2026 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
A blue basket holds a pile of tan, pink, orange and red invertebrates from sponges to sea urchins to sea stars Deep-sea sponges and other invertebrates in a collection basket during a bottom trawl survey. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Start-Up Beaver Dams Transform Parched California Creeks into Salmon Havens, New Research Finds

Juvenile survival rose and adult returns surged in the Klamath Basin.
September 09, 2026 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
photo of a slow moving creek and vegetation, with pools of water on either side of a small dam created with beaver dam analogues to help improve habitat for coho salmon and other wildlife. Sugar Creek flows over a dam initially created with beaver dam analogues to help improve habitat for coho salmon and other wildlife. Photo courtesy of Scott River Watershed Council.

Our 2026 NOAA-Supported Education Program Students Share Insights

NOAA offers a variety of student internship and fellowship opportunities. Some of the students participating in a few of these programs choose to work with mentors at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
September 08, 2026 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
College of interns from 2026 at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center
More News

Science Blogs

Exploring the Colors of the Ocean: My NOAA Hollings Internship

Field Fresh Blog: Science in Motion

Our intern, Grace Davis talks about her time at the center.
September 14, 2026 - Science Blog ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
EDAB_Protoperidinium_epi.png

Navigating the Skies and Seas: A Drone Pilot's Perspective on Sperm Whales

Evaluating Impacts of Multiple Stressors on Gulf Whales and Dolphins

Dr. Melissa Cook describes how a team used drones to study endangered sperm whales in the Gulf of America.
August 24, 2026 - Survey ,
Southeast
The bow, drone deck and flying bridge of NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter.

The Unexpected Catch: Friendship at Sea

Field Fresh Blog: Science in Motion

A fisheries observer's job is full of challenges, but one of its greatest rewards isn't found in the catch—for Sophie Brager it's the people you meet along the way. Read her story about the friendships, support, and connections that make life at sea a little easier.
August 14, 2026 - Fisheries Observer ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Women in orange gear on stern of fishing vessel.
More Science Blogs
Scroll to Top Icon
Sign Up Mail Button
Sign up for our newsletters
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
X (Twitter)
Linkedin
Bluesky
  • Agency Information
    • About Us
    • Laws & Policies
    • FishWatch
    • Site Index
  • For Fishermen
    • Rules & Regulations
    • Permits & Forms
    • Commercial Fishing
    • Recreational Fishing
    • Fishery Observers
  • For Researchers
    • Published Research
    • Science & Data
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Media Inquiries
    • Report a Violation
    • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
    • NOAA Staff Directory
Send Feedback
NOAA Logo
Science. Service. Stewardship.
Accessibility
|
EEO
|
FOIA
|
Information Quality
|
Policies & Disclaimer
|
Privacy Policy
|
USA.gov
Department of Commerce
|
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|
NOAA Fisheries