Our Location
![Map of Pacific Islands region with labs labeled](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218041120im_/https://cdn2.webdamdb.com/1280_0eJhAUXLmaY2.png?1505916250)
Bounded by the Hawaiian Archipelago in the north, American Samoa and U.S. Pacific Remote Island Areas in the south, and the Mariana Archipelago in the west, the Pacific Islands region encompasses the largest geographical area within NOAA Fisheries’ jurisdiction. The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) within the region includes more than 1.7 million square nautical miles of ocean, roughly equal to the total EEZ of the continental United States and Alaska. We also research living marine resources in the high-seas areas of the central and western Pacific.
What We Do
The center's work includes these main focus areas:
Ecosystem Sciences
We conduct multidisciplinary research, monitoring, and analysis of integrated environmental and living resource systems in coastal and offshore waters of the Pacific Ocean.
- Field research activities cover near-shore island ecosystems such as coral reefs to open ocean ecosystems on the high seas.
- Research focus includes: oceanography, coral reef ecosystem assessment and monitoring, benthic habitat mapping, and marine debris surveys and removal.
- Analysis of the current structure and dynamics of marine environments, as well as examination of potential projections of future conditions such as those resulting from climate change impacts are assessed with use of numerical ecosystem models.
- Because humans are a key part of the ecosystem, our research includes the social, cultural, and economic aspects of fishery and resource management decisions.
Learn more about ecosystem sciences in the Pacific Islands
Fisheries Research and Monitoring
We coordinate the Center's programs for fisheries monitoring, fisheries data management, fisheries interactions, fish life history studies, and stock assessment.
- We provide the scientific foundation to enable informed and effective implementation of ecosystem-based management and conservation strategies for U.S. fisheries throughout the Pacific Islands region.
- We carry out extensive activities to monitor U.S. fisheries of the Pacific Islands and oceanic waters of the central and western Pacific, assess the status of exploited fish stocks, and provide scientific advice to fishery managers. These activities are guided by mandates and authorities derived primarily from the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and international agreements.
- We also work closely with our partners in state and other federal agencies and local governments, international fisheries organizations, foreign scientific institutions, the fishing and seafood industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations.
Learn more about fisheries research and monitoring in the Pacific Islands
Protected Species
We provide the scientific foundation for the conservation of cetaceans, Hawaiian monk seals, and sea turtles in the Pacific Islands, guided by mandates of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and international agreements.
- Cetacean Research Program conducts research needed for the assessment of whale and dolphin populations in the central and western Pacific Ocean, which requires an understanding of distribution, stock structure, habitat use, and natural and anthropogenic threats, along with estimates of abundance, demography, and mortality.
- Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program conducts science-based conservation. The program carries out research and monitoring to support identification of threats, and designs, implements and evaluates interventions to mitigate those threats.
- Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program conducts research throughout the central and western Pacific Ocean to support the conservation and management of threatened and endangered marine turtle populations. The program works to understand the distribution, abundance, trends, movements, habitat use, and population dynamics of numerous populations of turtles from five species, as well as the impacts of anthropogenic activities such as fisheries bycatch on each population.
Learn more about protected species research in the Pacific Islands
Operations, Management, and Information
We provide high quality customer service, oversight, and the technical tools necessary to help further the success of the PIFSC and NOAA mission, while ensuring compliance with agency policies and regulations.
- Administrative Services provides oversight and coordination in the areas of personnel, procurement, travel, training, property management, grants management, interagency agreements, facilities and maintenance, safety and environmental compliance, and other related areas.
- Budget Office staff coordinate the development of budgets to meet Center objectives; operate an effective financial management system to allocate, monitor and account for Center monetary resources; and regularly report to Division Chiefs and the Center Director on financial status.
- Information Technology Services provides the infrastructure and tools needed by all Center employees to complete their job while enforcing the mandated security requirements.
Science Operations
We provide support and logistical services for the Center's scientific research activities to ensure their safety and success.
- We oversee all research resources and activities aboard NOAA ships, NOAA small boats, and charters, ensuring they are permitted and comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Our boating safety program provides boat safety training and coxswain support.
- Our scientific support pool is a cadre of trained and experienced biological technicians who provide at-sea and shoreside support for research activities.
- Our field liaisons provide support for research and monitoring activities in Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Our editors review research products from staff to ensure that the Center produces high-quality technical reports, scholarly articles, web content, and educational materials.
- The Library's collection includes books, journals, maps and charts, reports, newsletters and other grey literature, reprints, and more than 800 Japanese-to-English translations for researchers and the public.
More Information
Our Leadership
![2700x2700-Michael-Seki-NOAA-PIFSC-2017.jpg](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218041120im_/https://cdn2.webdamdb.com/310th_sm_6bywGxJeIg62.jpg?1518831588)
Michael Seki, Ph.D.
Director
In his role as Director of the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Dr. Seki provides the science direction and oversight of research activities that support stewardship of living marine resources in the vast expanse of the Pacific Islands Region. Since joining NOAA Fisheries in 1980, Dr. Seki has conducted extensive fisheries, oceanographic, and ecosystem research on many marine species in the Pacific. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 scientific papers and participated in over 20 domestic and international research surveys.
![NOAA Fisheries Personnel Default Profile](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218041120im_/https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/themes/custom/noaa_components/images/ProfilePic_Placeholder.jpg)
Management Team
Ecosystem Sciences Division
Frank Parrish, Ph.D.
Division Director-
Ocean Synthesis and Human Dimensions
- Justin Hospital, Supervisory Economist
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Ecosystem Sciences Division/Pelagic Research Program
- Ryan Rykaczewski, Ph.D., Supervisory Research Marine Scientist
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Archipelagic Research Program
- Jennifer Samson, Ph.D., Supervisory Research Ecologist
Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division
T. Todd Jones, Ph.D.
Division DirectorBeth Lumsden
Deputy Director-
International Fisheries Program
- Keith Bigelow, Supervisory Research Fish Biologist
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Stock Assessment Program
- Felipe Carvalho, Ph.D., Supervisory Research Mathematical Statistician
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Life History Program
- Joseph O'Malley, Ph.D., Supervisory Research Biologist
Protected Species Division
Charles Littnan, Ph.D.
Division Director-
Cetacean Research Program
- Erin Oleson, Ph.D., Research Ecologist
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Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program
- Summer Martin, Ph.D., Supervisory Research Biologist
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Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program
- Michelle Barbieri, DVM, MS, Veterinary Medical Officer
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Protected Species Services and Support Program
- Jessica Bohlander, Supervisory Marine Biologist
Science Operations Division
Noriko Shoji
Division Director-
Survey and Support Program
- Garry Harsanyi, Supervisory Natural Resource Management Specialist
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Technical Services Program
- M. Kimberly Lowe, Ph.D., Marine Scientist
Operations, Management and Information Division
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Operations, Management and Information
- Stephanie Garnett, Supervisory Business and Industry Specialist
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Budget Office
- Mary Zadlo, Budget Officer
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Information Technology Services
- Mark Kazunaga, Information Technology Services Chief