Fishing with dip nets in the 1940s and 2018. Credit: NOAA Fisheries Archives/G.T. Tooker (left); Shutterstock (right)

Magnuson-Stevens Act at 50: Charting a Course to Sustainable Fisheries

5/14/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. This landmark legislation set the United States on track to become a world leader in sustainable fisheries management. In April, we celebrated the 50 years since the United States signed the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This landmark law set the United States on a course toward sustainably and cooperatively managed marine… SEE MORE
View of Ford Cove where shoreline restoration is underway. Credit: InSite Design Studios, Inc.

Restoring Habitat for Great Lakes Fish at the Historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate

5/14/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. With $7 million in funding from NOAA Fisheries, the Ford House estate on Lake St. Clair in Michigan is rebuilding shoreline habitat for fish and other wildlife while expanding access and educational opportunities for visitors. NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation has established a unique partnership with Ford House, the… SEE MORE
Vessels docked in Newport, Oregon. Credit: Erin Steiner, NOAA Fisheries

New System Maps and Charts West Coast Fisheries Data to Inform Decisions on Ocean Uses

5/13/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. A new system combines decades of fisheries data and statistics to visualize West Coast fisheries and how they have changed over time. The Pacific Fishing Effort Mapping Project was led by researchers at NOAA, state wildlife departments, and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. It consolidates location… SEE MORE
Image Credits: Noaa.

United States Pushes for Stronger Action to Fight Illegal Fishing and Sustainably Manage Fisheries in the North Pacific

5/12/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. The United States advanced its goals to combat harmful fishing practices at the North Pacific Fisheries Commission’s 10th annual meeting in Osaka, Japan, in April. The Commission is a regional fisheries management organization. It manages pelagic and deep-sea fisheries in the high seas of the North Pacific, other than… SEE MORE
Dr. Holmes led a hack2week workshop as part of a NOAA International Fellowship in India in September 2023. Credit: International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography

Breaking Barriers to “Big Earth Data”

5/12/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. Dr. Elizabeth "Eli" Holmes received the prestigious Earth Science Information Partners Martha Maiden 2026 Award in January. Dr. Holmes’ 25-year career at NOAA Fisheries demonstrates a deep commitment to advancing open science, fostering collaboration across agencies, and inspiring the next generation of scientists. At NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Dr.… SEE MORE
At first glance, dolphins and porpoises look similar. Taking a closer look, there are some general differences that distinguish these animals. See the common bottlenose dolphin (left) and harbor porpoise (right) pictured above.

Is It a Dolphin or a Porpoise?

5/9/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. Dolphins and porpoises are both cetaceans, but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Learn how to recognize a dolphin vs. a porpoise. Dolphins and porpoises, along with whales, belong to a group of marine mammals called “cetaceans.” Cetacean comes from the Latin word for “large… SEE MORE
Recreational anglers enjoy a day on the water in the Florida Keys. NOAA/Matt McIntosh

Future of the Catch: The Modernization of Recreational Red Snapper Data Collection

5/8/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries and partners are using innovative methods to modernize Gulf of America recreational red snapper data collection. These projects are working to deliver faster, more efficient science. Red snapper is a cultural and economic cornerstone for coastal communities in the Gulf of America. The species is… SEE MORE
Image Credits: fisheries.noaa.gov.

NOAA Fisheries Certifies Two State Recreational Fishing Surveys to Improve Catch Estimates

5/5/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries has certified Alabama’s and Mississippi’s creel surveys as part of a move to advance federal-state partnerships for recreational fisheries management strategies. These surveys aim to produce more timely and precise estimates of state-specific recreational fishing catch and trip activity. This certification marks a significant milestone in the… SEE MORE
The aftermath of the Morrill Fire as seen from aircraft on March 14, 2026. [Image credit: Watch Duty/InciWeb]

NOAA’s Wildfire Detection System a “Game Changer” for Nebraska’s Record-Breaking Morrill Fire

4/29/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. When the Morrill Fire ignited on March 12, 2026, it quickly grew into the largest wildfire in Nebraska history. As the fire rapidly burned across the state, NOAA’s Next Generation Fire System (NGFS) provided the critical eye-in-the-sky perspective for the massive response to the record-breaking fire. The up-to-the-minute guidance… SEE MORE