Spring Chinook Salmon. Credit: Michael Humling, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

NOAA Fisheries Finds Listing Gulf of Alaska Chinook Salmon Under the Endangered Species Act “Not Warranted”

5/28/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries’ 12-month review shows a low risk of extinction. NOAA Fisheries has completed a status review and 12-month finding for Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon in response to a January 2024 petition. The Wild Fish Conservancy petitioned to delineate and list one or more evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon… SEE MORE
A humpback whale feeds on schooling forage fish in Prince William Sound Alaska. Photo taken under NOAA Fisheries Permit #24378 Credit: NOAA Fisheries/John Moran

Capelin: a “Sea Canary” for Marine Ecosystem Change in Response to Heatwaves

5/27/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. Capelin are a major forage fish species in high-latitude marine ecosystems. Recent heatwaves in Alaska led to a dramatic decline in capelin abundance, which can have major impacts on predators, including marine mammals, seabirds, and fish. Twenty years ago, Dr. George Rose with Memorial University of Newfoundland called capelin… SEE MORE
High-tide flooding on October 24, 2017, submerged roads and parking areas along Dock Street, in the historic heart of Annapolis, Maryland. Photo by Will Parson, Chesapeake Bay Program. Used with permission.

El Niño and High Tide Flooding, a Possible Double Whammy for Some Coastal Communities in 2026

5/24/2026 - By oceanservice.noaa.gov, oceanservice.noaa.gov. NOAA’s National Weather Service is predicting El Niño is likely to emerge by July 2026 and continue through the winter, and for many locations in the U.S. this could mean more high tide flooding. To understand why more flooding is expected, it helps to understand what El Niño is and… SEE MORE
A coho salmon swims up the Sol Duc river on the Olympic Peninsula. Credit: Adobe Stock.

World Fish Migration Day

5/22/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. May 23, 2026 is World Fish Migration Day: a global celebration of the importance of migratory fish. Every year, millions of fish—salmon, steelhead trout, shad, alewives, and sturgeon, among others—migrate to their native habitats to reproduce. Some fish swim thousands of miles through oceans and rivers to… SEE MORE
Adult female and male steelhead. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Good News Stories for Endangered Species Day 2026

5/19/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. This Endangered Species Day, we’re highlighting conservation successes and progress made toward the recovery of endangered species. Endangered species face many threats, but thanks to protections under the Endangered Species Act, some are showing signs of recovery. For Endangered Species Day, we’re highlighting a few success stories. By… SEE MORE
South Beach on Miami Beach was inundated by Sargassum seaweed on June 21, 2018. Credit: Michael Montero/University of Miami

NOAA Sargassum Tool Now Provides Daily Update of Risk of Seaweed Washing up on Beaches

5/18/2026 - By research.noaa.gov, research.noaa.gov. Upgrade will help communities anticipate impacts, risks, and supports planning and response. NOAA’s Sargassum Inundation Risk tool (SIR) has been upgraded to offer daily reports on the location and risk that brown floating algae could wash ashore along coastal areas in the Caribbean, Florida, Gulf of America, and northern… SEE MORE