Northwest Fisheries Science Center

The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) conducts research to support the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Pacific Northwest region’s anadromous and marine fishery resources and their habitats. Research is conducted across five primary areas:

• status of stocks,
• human caused stress/risks,
• ecosystem and climate characteristics,
• recover and rebuild species, and
• innovation and technology.

Information from the NWFSC supports the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Regional Office, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and other constituents along the U.S. west coast. The NWFSC carries out research from its Montlake Laboratory headquarters in Seattle, WA, and from five research stations in Manchester, Mukilteo, and Pasco, WA, and in Newport and Pt. Adams, OR.

The Center has several small vessels for conducting studies and relies on the NOAA Ships Miller Freeman and McArthur II, as well as privately chartered vessels and academic research ships to supplement the Center’s research capability and to conduct critical surveys. The NWFSC develops and maintains strong collaborative partnerships with state and Federal agencies, industry, environmental groups, Native American tribes, individual fishers, universities, and other research and academic institutions.