Pacific capelin with unknown maturity. Scientists make microscopic observations to determine if capelin spawn only once or if they are capable of spawning over multiple years. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Scientists Discover Repeat Spawning in Pacific Capelin

8/12/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. For certain fish species, like Pacific salmon, reproduction is a once-in-a-lifetime event, known as semelparity. Many other fish are iteroparous—meaning they can spawn repeatedly throughout their lives. New research by NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center reveals the first evidence that Pacific capelin can be repeat spawners. Over the past decade,… SEE MORE
Enforcement officer inventories shark fins. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Officers Deploy for High Seas Patrols Combatting Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing

8/9/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. Enforcement officers from NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement have successfully wrapped up deployments for Operation North Pacific Guard, an annual international mission targeting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing on the high seas. The officers, who used their specialized experience to support the operation, patrolled over 8,000 nautical miles aboard… SEE MORE
(Overlay) L: Goliath grouper circa 1945. Credit: Wally Ericson. R: Shrimp fishing in Galveston, Texas. Date unknown. Credit: NOAA Library/NOAA Fisheries Archives/Bob Brigham; (Background): Boats in harbor. Credit: Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant

Gulf Fishery Management: Progress Through Partnership

7/31/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. From spiny lobster in the Florida Keys to red snapper off the coast of Texas, the Gulf of America’s rich waters support robust recreational and commercial fisheries. In fact, this area leads the nation in recreational landings, generates the second largest commercial landings revenue, and fuels a $20 billion annual fishing economy. A… SEE MORE
Divers propagating mesophotic coral fragments to start new colonies

Deep Diving and Innovation to Restore the Gulf’s Mesophotic Corals

7/30/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. Deep in the Gulf of America lies a vital but little-known habitat. In the "mesophotic" (middle light) zone are coral ecosystems that are essential to the Gulf’s food web. In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill injured extensive areas of this delicate environment. Today, scientists across federal agencies and… SEE MORE
The NOAA Fisheries response team uses poles with specialized knives to cut entangling lines. Credit: Alaska Department of Fish and Game/Jamie Musbach (NOAA Fisheries Permit # 24359)

Humpback Whale Successfully Freed from Entanglement in Endicott Arm

7/26/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. The Tracy Arm-Fords Terror wilderness, located 50 miles south of Juneau, Alaska, features a pair of steep glacial fjords: Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. While remote, the waters in this area see steady vessel traffic, ranging from massive cruise ships and small charter boats to commercial fishing… SEE MORE
Image Credits: NOAA Fisheries.

Celebrating Habitat Month

7/21/2026 - By Fisheries.Noaa.Gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. July is Habitat Month at NOAA Fisheries! All month long, we’ll be sharing how we conserve and restore habitat to sustain our nation’s fisheries and support coastal communities. NOAA conserves habitats like wetlands, rivers, and coral reefs to support fisheries—but habitat isn’t valuable just for the home it provides for fish and wildlife.… SEE MORE