NOAA Fisheries Podcast Series
On the Line is a NOAA Fisheries podcast about marine fish and wildlife and their ocean habitats, with stories told by the people who study, manage, and protect these valuable resources on behalf of the American public. Each podcast comes with photos and a short Web feature story.
Listen in to find out who's on the line.
Putting the World in World Sea Turtle Day
June 10, 2016
An interview with NOAA Fisheries biologist and sea turtle scientist Manjula Tiwari.
Tracking El Niño and its Effects on Life in the Ocean
March 30, 2016
An interview with NOAA Fisheries’ two top scientists on the West Coast.
Can the Vaquita be Saved from Extinction?
March 10, 2016
Fewer than 100 vaquita remain, making this species of porpoise the most endangered marine mammal in the world.
Harmful Algal Blooms: A Sign of Things to Come?
January 27, 2016
An interview with NOAA Fisheries scientist Vera Trainer.
On the Front Lines of Climate Change in the Ocean
December 30, 2015
NOAA Fisheries scientist Bill Peterson tracks the effects of climate change, El Niño, and "The Blob" on life in the ocean.
UAV Reveals Killer Whales in Striking Detail
October 21, 2015
Unmanned aerial vehicle allows scientists to study killer whale health and reproduction while also offering a glimpse into the family life of these social animals.
Fisheries in a Changing Climate
August 25, 2015
Climate change is already having a big effect on our fisheries. In this podcast, Roger Griffis, climate change coordinator for NOAA Fisheries, discusses the challenges and the opportunities ahead.
White Abalone, What Turns You On?
August 10, 2015
To save endangered white abalone, scientists are working to breed them in captivity. But first they have to figure out how to turn white abalone on.
Saving the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle
June 17, 2015
The Leatherback is a most unusual species of sea turtle. In the Pacific, it's also among the most endangered.
Sea Lion Strandings – The View from the Rookery
April 30, 2015
NOAA Fisheries wildlife biologist Sharon Melin describes conditions at the sea lion rookeries on the Channel Islands, where pups are going hungry because unusually warm water along the Pacific coast has made it more difficult for their mothers to find food.
Listening for Cod in the Gulf of Maine
March 19, 2015
Scientists and fishermen are working together to locate spawning aggregations of Atlantic cod. The goal is to allow cod and fishermen to each go about their business separately.
When Estimating Fish Populations, Seeing is Believing
January 28, 2015
Adding video cameras to fish traps allows scientists to get more precise abundance estimates for several important species of reef fish.
Sea Turtles Rescued from the Cold
December 23, 2014
A record number of sea turtles have stranded after being cold-stunned this fall. The Sea Turtle Stranding Network is bringing them in from the cold.
October 14, 2014
An interview with Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs at NOAA Fisheries.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Offers a New View of Killer Whales
October 7, 2014
For the first time, scientists have used an unmanned aerial vehicle to photograph killer whales from above. This gives scientists a new way to monitor killer whale health and reproduction while giving us all a stunning new view of the species.
August 7, 2014
New research reveals that Atlantic white sharks, which were hunted indiscriminately for almost two decades following the release of the movie Jaws, have slowly been making a comeback.
Gray Whale Calves Born in Big Numbers
July 17, 2014
NOAA Fisheries scientists keep track of how many gray whale calves are born each winter, and it looks like this was a banner year for calf production.
For Rescued Sea Turtle Eggs, A Slim Chance at Survival
June 18, 2014
NOAA Fisheries veterinarian, Brian Stacy, describes a very unusual attempt to rescue the eggs of a sea turtle that was hit and killed by a boat.
Antarctic Minke Whales, Mystery Soundmakers of the Southern Ocean
April 23, 2014
Scientists have discovered the source of the "bio-duck" sound, a strange noise that has mystified scientists and submarine captains in the ocean off Antarctica for decades.
How to Disentangle a Tangled Up Whale
March 29, 2014
Every year, scores of whales become entangled in fishing gear off the U.S. Atlantic coast. The Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network works to save them.
A Changing Climate in Fisheries Management
February 13, 2014
How will we manage fish populations as the climate changes? NOAA Fisheries biologist John Manderson is working on one small piece of the puzzle.
December 23, 2013
Scientists are working to understand why the population of Southern Resident killer whales isn’t rebounding, and what we can do to help them recover.
November 4, 2013
To ensure a sustainable future for aquaculture, scientists are developing alternative aquaculture feeds that use few or no ingredients from wild caught fish.
October 24, 2013
A NOAA biologist who necropsied this strange and mysterious fish shares his theory of how two of them ended up on the beach.
Blinded by the Noise—Whales and Dolphins in a Noisy Ocean
September 3, 2013
Many marine mammals use hearing to find their way through the world. But parts of the ocean are filling up with man-made noise, and that has the potential to leave them partially blinded. The CETSOUND project might help.
August 4, 2013
Can a special type of hook called a circle hook help vulnerable shark populations to recover? Scientists and fishermen team up to find out.
Seafood Fraud—Detection and Prevention
July 17, 2013
Learn how NOAA's Seafood Inspection Program is working to help ensure that the seafood you buy is what the seller claims it is.
June 27, 2013
When a NOAA marine biologist performs a necropsy on a dolphin that washed up dead on the beach, she’s not only monitoring the health of marine mammals. She’s monitoring human health as well.
June 3, 2013
Scientists and fishermen work together to understand how walleye pollock respond to a changing environment.
The Keratin Connection: A Breakthrough in Sea Turtle Research
May 16, 2013
Experts with very different backgrounds join forces to protect endangered sea turtles.
Saving Coho Salmon: It's All About the Timing
May 16, 2013
As NOAA biologists work to re-establish runs of coho salmon in California, they aim to bring back some of the diversity of the wild populations that once thrived there.
To Protect Fin Whales, Scientists Work on Their Listening Skills
May 16, 2013
Scientists map out distinct populations of endangered fin whales based on differences in their song.