Image Credits: rawpixel.com.

Environmental Protection, with a Side of Small Business

11/20/2024 - By Brian Owens. Conservation takes cash, and philanthropic funding is notoriously fickle. To secure the future of its environmental efforts, this Dominican nonprofit is trying something new: making booze. When Hurricane Maria swept through the Caribbean in 2017, tiny Dominica was hit particularly hard—howling winds and torrential rain damaged or… SEE MORE
Wetlands provide a buffer from wave energy for shorelines and communities behind them. But sea level rise, storms, and other challenges are causing wetlands to erode. We’re working to restore these important habitats. Photo: Chesapeake Bay Program/Will Parson.

Protecting and Restoring Habitat in Virginia’s Middle Peninsula

11/19/2024 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. Healthy wetlands and oyster reefs support fish, wildlife, and communities. Virginia’s Middle Peninsula is a beautiful part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed—both on and off the water. But it faces challenges due to climate change, a lack of capacity to restore habitat, and rural coastal economic hardship. While the Middle… SEE MORE
Sardine collected on the 2023 Coastal Pelagic Species Survey. Pacific and Japanese sardine look so similar that they can only be distinguished by genetics. Genomic analysis later revealed that the catch contained both species. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Kelsey James

Surprise! Japanese Sardines Astonish Scientists by Crossing the Pacific to the West Coast

11/18/2024 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. Next generation genomic sequencing of Pacific sardine reveals not one, but two species of sardine in the California Current in 2022 and 2023. When research scientist Gary Longo first saw the results of his genomic analysis of sardines, he thought he must have mixed up his samples. Besides… SEE MORE
The annual Seagriculture, USA Conference took place in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Connecting Aquaculture Enthusiasts from Across the World

11/16/2024 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. Ketchikan, Alaska hosts the third annual Seagriculture, USA International Seaweed Conference. Members of the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Aquaculture team attended the international seaweed growing conference Seagriculture, USA Sept.11-12 in Ketchikan, Alaska. The 2024 conference marks the event’s debut in Alaska, an exciting distinction for the growing Alaska aquaculture industry. Participants… SEE MORE
Image Credits: Fisheries.noaa.gov.

New Calculator Helps Oyster Growers Measure the Water Quality Benefits of Farms

11/15/2024 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. The new tool provides a science-based estimate of how much nitrogen oyster farms remove from local waterways. It generates a report that can be used in the aquaculture permitting process. When it comes to removing excess nutrients from waterways, shellfish are a powerhouse. The NOAA Milford Lab in Connecticut studies… SEE MORE
Image Credits: fisheries.noaa.gov.

New Clues Reveal Genetic Diversity among Alaska’s Harbor Porpoises

11/14/2024 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. Powerful tools reveal hidden structure of harbor porpoise population. Harbor porpoises are shy, elusive creatures that live in Alaska's coastal waters and are vital parts of the marine ecosystem. But how these animals are distributed and connected across the vast Alaskan waters remains a mystery. A new study published in the… SEE MORE
A newly acquired Makah trawling vessel in Neah Bay, being made ready to fish in the tribal whiting fishery. Credit: J.L. Ise/NOAA Fisheries

New Science Plan Outlines Research Priorities on Effects of Offshore Wind Development Along the West Coast

11/13/2024 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries seeks to further build its expertise in this emerging ocean use. Offshore wind energy may represent the most significant new commercial use of the ocean seen in many decades. As new offshore wind technology emerges off the U.S. West Coast, NOAA Fisheries has developed a strategic… SEE MORE
A fisherman unloading their catch at dock. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Looking to the Future, Living in the Present: Supporting a Thriving and Resilient Seafood Industry

11/12/2024 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. Fall is a good time to pause and reflect—not just on the past, but also on what lies ahead. Assistant Administrator, Janet Coit, shares her thoughts on how NOAA Fisheries is working to ensure a bright future for the seafood community. October is National Seafood Month, and the… SEE MORE