FishWatch

Veterans are getting a chance to train and work on habitat restoration and fisheries monitoring through a project funded by NOAA. Partnering with California Conservation Corps and California's Department of Fish and Game, NOAA will offer the vets a year-long program of paid training and hands-on experience that will open pathways to new careers in natural resource management and habitat conservation. The work will benefit fisheries, too!

Bycatch of various species—whether fish, marine mammals, or turtles—can have significant biological, economic, and social impacts on our nation's fisheries. Reducing bycatch can help fishermen increase their fishing opportunities and efficiency and can also increase catch rates for target species. Under the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program, NOAA Fisheries works side-by-side with fishermen on their boats to develop solutions to some of the top bycatch challenges facing U.S. fisheries.

White abalone used to number in the millions off the southern California coast, but they've since declined to the point that, in 2001, they became the first marine invertebrate to be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Recovery efforts to date haven't helped; in fact, trends indicate that this species is approaching extinction. NOAA Fisheries and partners are working to changes that—using aquaculture techniques, they're producing captive-bred abalone that will be used to establish a self-sustaining population in the wild.

NOAA researchers are getting a comprehensive view of the ocean floor using a new instrument, and have confirmed high numbers of young sea scallops off of Delaware Bay, which bodes well for the future of the scallop fishery.

With a dish of slow-cooked Oregon Chinook salmon, Chef Gregory Gourdet of Departure Restaurant in Portland, Oregon took first place at the ninth annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off, an event partly sponsored by NOAA Fisheries to highlight – to American seafood consumers – the agency's commitment to a healthy marine environment and improving the nation's domestic seafood supply.

As one of the top predators of the oceans, sharks play an important role in the food web and help ensure balance in the ocean's ecosystem. As demand and exploitation rates for some shark species and shark products (i.e., fins) have increased, concern has steadily grown regarding the status of many shark stocks and the sustainability of global fisheries. Relative to other marine fish, sharks have biological characteristics that leave many shark species vulnerable to overfishing. Globally there is a general lack of data reporting on the catch of sharks, particularly species-specific data. For these reasons, sharks present an array of issues and challenges for fisheries conservation and management both domestically and internationally. Despite the challenges, NOAA Fisheries is committed to achieving sustainable management of sharks.

Three basic things you should know about bluefin tuna—they're big, they're fast, and they like to travel. So, when scientists from NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center actually tagged and released an 8-foot-long, 400-pound bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico in April, they anxiously awaited to discover…where did that huge tuna go?

For centuries, Gloucester, Massachusetts has been one of the nation's top fishing ports—a port filled with commercial and recreational fishing boats, fish buyers, distributors, ice houses, shipyards, seafood restaurants, and fishermen's bars. The town was built on a foundation of fish and fishing runs strongly through the city's blood. Now, NOAA is beginning to work with the fishermen of Gloucester (pronounced gläs-tər) to add mussel farming, or aquaculture, as a complement to traditional fishing.

A truly sustainable fishery balances people, profit, and of course, the planet. CNN Money highlights disclaimer how the famous "'deadliest catch' is not so deadly anymore," and it's more profitable and environmentally friendly, too—basically a fishery manager's dream come true. Under an innovative management approach, the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery now operates more efficiently, safely, and profitably than ever, all while the crab population remains abundant and bycatch of other species is minimal.

Flatfish trawl gear isn't what it used to be—and that's a good thing. In the Bering Sea, traditional trawl gear had long sweeps, or cables running from the doors to the wings of the net, which moved across the bottom of the seafloor to herd flatfish into the center of the net. NOAA Fisheries scientists and partners like Alaska Seafood Cooperative and Bering Sea flatfish fishing industry members collaborated to modify the gear so it reduces the damage to important bottom habitat.

Multiple types of white fish have been used for fish sticks, but today, the primary fish-stick fish is Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). With an annual harvest that fluctuates around a million tons, Alaska pollock is the United States' largest fishery, and it's one of the biggest, most economically valuable fisheries in the world. Alaska pollock populations exhibit large fluctuations from year to year. Historically, declines in some regions were exacerbated by heavy fishing. By establishing annual catch limits (quotas) on this stock since 1977, the United States has long worked to ensure that the pollock fishery is a model for sustainable seafood harvest. While quotas have largely addressed the problem of human overfishing of Alaska pollock, another challenge looms for NOAA Fisheries: keeping up with changes in climate. Warmer water temperatures appear to be a double-whammy for pollock: they reduce availability of the pollock's preferred food, while increasing the populations of its predators.

Healthy habitat is vital to abundant fisheries and marine life. Fish use habitat to feed, grow, reproduce, and raise their young so these places need to be in good condition for fish populations to survive and thrive.

In September 2011, the largest dam removal in U.S. history began on the Elwha River in Washington—home to all five species of Pacific salmon. Just a few short months after the 108-foot tall Elwha Dam was removed, fish are already returning to their restored habitat.

In 2011, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council and NOAA Fisheries implemented the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program. In just one year, the program has become a national model for sustainable fisheries management that ensures overfishing is behind us, provides stability to the fishing industry, and supports the fishing infrastructure of many Pacific coastal communities.

How are you connected to deep-sea corals? For one, deep-sea corals are home to important commercial fish species such as grouper, snapper, sea bass, rockfish, shrimp, and crab. One way to protect deep-sea corals is to make wise seafood choices that support sustainable fishing practices.

The Commerce Department recently announced the appointment of 30 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils that partner with NOAA Fisheries to manage ocean fish stocks. Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental interests and academia, and carry out the Magnuson-Stevens Act's requirements to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks, and manage them sustainably.

Silently patrolling the ocean depths for the last 400 million years, sharks are some of the oldest creatures on the planet...and some of the most elusive. However, that's changing a bit now that NOAA scientists are working collaboratively with Uruguay's fisheries agency to research blue sharks in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean using state-of-the-art tagging techniques and satellite monitoring. Experts believe that this research could lead to better conservation of sharks, by informing sustainable fishing practices and reducing unnecessary bycatch.

When are the salmon coming? That's what people along the Yukon River are asking this month, as they gear up for another season of fishing. The timing of the year's first run of Chinook (king) salmon can vary by as much as 20 days, depending on spring conditions. Researchers from NOAA Fisheries and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game use data on these conditions to predict the timing of the salmon run.

Have you ever wished you could have fresh, locally caught seafood delivered direct to you every week? What if your purchase helped support the local fishing communities in the process? In a growing number of communities, this is a reality. Community supported fisheries, or CSFs, link fishermen to their local markets. It works like this—any member of the public can pre-pay for a "season" of fresh, local, low-impact seafood, and in turn, receive a weekly or bi-weekly share of fish or shellfish.

Alaska waters host some of the most commercially valuable U.S. fisheries. More than half of the U.S. seafood Americans eat is caught in Alaska. Understanding what role natural and human-influenced variations in temperature, nutrients, sea ice, and other factors play in the ecosystem will enable better predictions of climate impacts that affect the economy and people of the region. NOAA researchers and their partners studied Bering Sea ice and ecosystem conditions over six years in order to understand the processes that influence the eastern Bering Sea marine ecosystem and recently published their findings.

Fish swim beyond national boundaries. Because fish are a shared resource, the long-term sustainability of the world's fisheries can only be achieved through effective international cooperation. In support of this goal, NOAA seeks to ensure that management of global fish stocks is science-based, that U.S. commercial and recreational fishermen have equitable access to these fisheries, and that a steady supply of safe, legal, and sustainable seafood is available to meet consumer demand into the future. The United States and the European Union have outlined a similar vision for fisheries reform in the global arena—one that will provide for ecological and economic stability.

Culverts—the pipes that allow water to flow under roads and bridges—can sometimes block fish from swimming upstream. When this happens, fish can't reach their spawning habitat. In 2010, we replaced culverts on Bride Brook, the second largest herring run in Connecticut. With the increased flow from the new, larger culvert, herring were able to swim upstream for the first time in more than a decade. And this year, Bride Brook reaped the benefits: this year's run was more than triple what we had seen in the past.

In Baja California, Mexico, NOAA Fisheries scientists are doubling the impact of their research—protecting endangered sea turtles while mentoring the next generation of ocean scientists and ocean leaders. Through a partnership with the San Diego-based non-profit Ocean Discovery Institute, NOAA is giving hands-on research opportunities to young people from urban and diverse backgrounds.

NOAA Fisheries' scientific stock assessments are key to fisheries management. They examine the effects of fishing and other factors to describe the past and current status of a fish stock, answer questions about the size of a fish stock, and make predictions about how a fish stock will respond to current and future management measures. Fish stock assessments support sustainable fisheries by providing fisheries managers with the information necessary to make sound decisions. Find out more about the data required for assessing U.S. fish stocks in part one of our Stock Assessment 101 Series.

NOAA Fisheries releases the 15th Annual Report to Congress on the Status of the Nation's Fisheries. This report documents our national journey toward ending overfishing and rebuilding the nation's fisheries.

Ann and Capt. Richard Cook of Charlestown, Rhode Island sell locally caught, fresh seafood at Rhode Island and Connecticut farmers markets, restaurants and through their community supported fishery program. Capt. Cook also fishes for summer flounder, striped bass, sea bass and lobster from the Sandra Lynn, his 35-foot fiberglass boat.

Scalloping is a big and growing business in the United States. It's also a sustainable fishery. Here we feature Bob Keese—a scallop fisherman out of Chatham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. Keese says scalloping is better than it ever has been; there's a bigger demand and the price is higher. Bob and his crew work for a small, clean fishery. They typically shuck about 600 pounds of scallops a day and sell what's been freshly landed. Click on the video below to hear Bob's story, how he makes his living harvesting scallops, and why he loves fishing in Cape Cod.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently awarded 18 grants from its Fisheries Innovation Fund for a total $1.55 million, and grantees will match the funds more than $1.2 million. The fund targets local innovation and knowledge transfer to sustain coastal communities and the fisheries upon which they depend. The most recent grant recipients focus on improving access to fish, capital, and shore-side infrastructure.

Observers are NOAA-trained biologists who monitor commercial fisheries nationwide, collecting data on catch and bycatch as well as biological samples, information on fishing gear, and economic data. This data is critical for smart fishery management and the future of our seafood supply.

Two recreational fishermen (a chef and a seafood salesman by trade) are leading a unique grassroots movement to control the spread of northern snakehead, an invasive species that threatens the future of an ecosystem they know and love. How do they plan to do it? By creating a market for snakeheads and eating them!

Take a look at the collaboration between NOAA scientists and fishermen and hear how this team is using new tools to survey, research, and better understand depleted, commercially important groundfish in the Southern California Bight—the area located in coastal southern California which includes the Channel Islands and part of the Pacific Ocean.

When you see the word "overfishing" it's only natural to think this only applies to, well, fishing. Although fishing adds significant pressure, fish stocks can also become "overfished" for many other reasons, including natural mortality, disease, and environmental conditions.

Meet Phil Harris, a commercial fisherman who uses traps to catch black cod, or sablefish, in waters off San Diego. Phil and his crew work hard to get fresh, quality, sustainable fish straight to the consumer.

Learn more about the safety of seafood from the Gulf of Mexico post-Deepwater Horizon.

Meet Rob Seitz, a commercial fisherman who fishes for dungeness crabs and groundfish in the waters off Astoria, Oregon and Ilwaco, Washington.

Meet Bill Dewey of Taylor Shellfish Farms in Shelton, Washington. A biologist by training, Bill owns and runs his own clam farm in addition to his job at Taylor.

Meet Laura Anderson, owner of Local Ocean Seafood – a popular seafood restaurant on the waterfront in scenic Newport, Oregon. Watch a video to hear her story and learn why she works so hard to bring a variety of sustainable local seafood to her customers.

Meet Linda Behnken, a commercial fisherman out of Alaska. Behnken has been fishing for halibut, sablefish, and salmon in Alaskan waters since 1982. With her husband, she co-owns the Woodstock, a 40-foot boat home-ported in Sitka, a small community in Alaska's southeast.

Meet Perry Raso, an oyster farmer and owner of Matunuck Oyster Farm, who has been growing oysters in a Rhode Island salt pond since 2002. Two years ago, Raso also opened Matunuck Oyster Bar, a seafood restaurant next door.