Ecosystems

The physical boundaries of regional ecosystems are based on four ecological criteria: bathymetry, hydrography, productivity, and trophic relationships. Based on these criteria, there are eight distinct regional ecosystems around the coastal margins of the United States:

• Alaska 

• California Current

• Caribbean

• Great Lakes

• Gulf of Mexico

• Northeast U.S. Shelf

• Pacific Islands 

• Southeast U.S. Shelf

Ecosystem-based fishery management is a cornerstone of our efforts to sustainably manage the nation’s marine fisheries. It complements and builds off-of traditional single species fishery management. This approach considers social, economic, and ecological trade-offs across multiple fisheries and habitats. Making sound decisions depends on access to reliable, accurate, and actionable ecological, social, and economic information, tools, approaches, and models.

Ecosystem-based fishery management helps NOAA Fisheries and our regional fishery management council partners meet sustainable fishery management goals under multiple mandates such as: 

• Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
• Endangered Species Act
• Marine Mammal Protection Act
• National Environmental Protection Act
• National Aquaculture Act

The Ecosystem Based Fishery Management Policy and Road Map describe how NOAA Fisheries implements ecosystem based fisheries management based on six guiding principles:

1. Implement ecosystem-level planning.
2. Advance our understanding of ecosystem processes.
3. Prioritize vulnerabilities and risks of ecosystems and their components.
4. Explore and address trade-offs within an ecosystem.
5. Incorporate ecosystem considerations into management advice.
6. Maintain resilient ecosystems.

NOAA Fisheries has developed ecosystem-based fisheries management implementation plans. These plans complement work already underway by regional fishery management councils through fishery management plans and fishery ecosystem plans. 

Managing our nation’s marine resources depends on coordinated scientific effort to understand and provide advice regarding the fundamental structures, functions, processes, and natural and human interactions that shape marine ecosystems and the services they provide. To accomplish this objective, our science programs include the following key components:

• Observations, mapping, and data: Collecting, analyzing, and reporting information about living marine resources and ecosystem condition.
• Research and modeling: Testing hypotheses about ecosystem structure and function; integrating a broad array of data; and investigating management scenarios.
• Synthesis and evaluation: Providing scientific advice using relevant data about an ecosystem and its future status with respect to specified management objectives.

Science and Research Programs

Integrated Ecosystem Assessments

We use integrated ecosystem assessments as a science-based decision-support process that provides the analytical framework to implement ecosystem-based approaches to manage our marine resources, including fisheries and protected resources. Integrated ecosystem assessments synthesize data on physical, chemical, ecological, and human processes within ecosystems to provide the sound interdisciplinary ecosystem-based science, trade-off evaluation, and management advice required to ensure our nation’s marine resources are sustainable and deliver a broad spectrum of benefits and services.

Learn more about integrated ecosystem assessments

Habitat Science

A research program that examine the relationships among species and their environment. Habitat science and assessments provide essential scientific advice to resource managers on the current status and future trends of marine habitats utilized by living marine resources.

Learn more about habitat science and assessments

Climate Science

Science activities include tracking current conditions, providing early warnings and forecasts, understanding the mechanisms of climate impacts, and projecting future conditions all to evaluate possible options for fisheries management and protected resources conservation in a changing world. 

Learn more about climate and fisheries 

Fisheries and the Environment

This is a research program aimed at improving our understanding of environmental impacts on living marine resources. It applies that information to improve stock assessments, ecosystem assessments, and ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management.

Learn more about Fisheries and the Environment

Planktonic Ecosystems Data and Analytical Products

Oceanic plankton constitute the largest reservoir of biomass in the world's oceans and play a significant role in the transfer of energy and materials within the oceanic ecosystems. Gaining access and insight into world's collection of historical and ongoing plankton monitoring data is essential for evaluating ecosystem health and for detecting changes in these ecosystems.

Learn more about planktonic ecosystems data and analytical products

NOAA National Systematics Laboratory

This lab conducts systematic, taxonomic, and life history research on marine organisms of economic and ecological value, thereby contributing to the understanding of marine biodiversity within marine ecosystems.

Learn more about our National Systematics Laboratory

Ecosystem Modeling

To support ecosystem-based fisheries management, NOAA Fisheries carries out many interrelated efforts to monitor, model, and manage the nation's living marine resources (LMRs) and associated goods, services, and emergent properties from marine ecosystems. Ecosystem models are quantitative tools used for resource management that incorporate factors internal and external to a focal LMR or group of LMRs. Ecosystem models are focused on practical applications, such as integrating qualitative and quantitative information on an ecosystem for improved understanding of ecosystem function, evaluating trade-offs among ecosystem components and management objectives, or to set specific management reference points or provide ecosystem context for reference points. 

Learn more about ecosystem modeling