Tag: NOAA

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

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

Bluefin Tuna underwater Image Credits: Shutterstock, Shutterstock, Adnan Buyuk

Western Atlantic Provides Refuge for Bluefin Tuna

5/1/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. A 30-year study shows that conservation measures in the western Atlantic have created a vital haven, contributing to the recovery of bluefin tuna. An international team of scientists deployed electronic tags on bluefin tunas across three decades to investigate stock movement between the eastern and western Atlantic.… 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

The solar-powered and self-propelled SeaTrac can stay at sea for months, collecting data with a wide variety of off-the-shelf and NOAA-designed instruments. Credit: PMEL

Another Ocean Drone Joins NOAA’s Growing Fleet

4/28/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. The SeaTrac has the potential to become a do-it-all research platform It’s bright yellow, solar-powered and self-propelled. It can stay at sea for months, collecting data with a wide variety of off-the-shelf and NOAA-designed instruments. It’s emerging as the next important member of NOAA’s growing Uncrewed Surface… SEE MORE

Image of geological samples from the seafloor that were collected via box core on April 14, 2026, in U.S. waters off American Samoa. (Image credit: USGS)

NOAA Releases First Images of Nodules from Waters Near American Samoa

4/24/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. New images and samples were collected during 2026 efforts to map and characterize the seafloor in federal waters off American Samoa NOAA released today the first images of geologic seafloor samples from a hydrographic survey project to map and characterize more than 30,000 square nautical miles of federal waters in the… SEE MORE

Sea Grant Aquaculture Leadership Academy participants tour a Sandbar Oyster Company oyster and salt marsh restoration project North Carolina. (Photo by LaDon Swann)

Minnesota, Texas Sea Grant Programs to Lead Next Aquaculture Leadership Academy

4/19/2026 - By seagrant.noaa.gov, seagrant.noaa.gov. The Sea Grant Aquaculture Leadership Academy will continue for the next two years with Minnesota Sea Grant and Texas Sea Grant at the helm. The leaders will include Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Educator Julia Grenn and Extension Program Leader and Aquaculture Extension Educator Amy Schrank, both of… SEE MORE

Aviation Weather Center monitors showing the tools used for weather forecasting.

NOAA improves aviation forecasts to bolster U.S. air travel efficiency, safety

4/14/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. Passengers, pilots, and crew: Get ready for greater peace of mind. Starting in late March, a new NOAA weather forecast system will provide improved prediction of two aviation hazards that pose threats to flight safety and create anxiety among passengers: airplane icing and turbulence. Covering the contiguous… SEE MORE

The NOAA Ship Rainier conducts a seabed mapping exercise in the Pacific in 2022. (Image credit: NOAA)

NOAA Ship to Map Potential Critical Mineral Deposits in U.S. waters of Pacific Ocean

4/13/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. In early April, the NOAA Ship Rainier will begin to map and characterize more than 8,000 square nautical miles of federal waters off Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. This project is part of the Department of Commerce's implementation of the U.S. Offshore Critical… SEE MORE