Red snapper, like the one pictured here, is a culturally and economically important fish for South Atlantic fishing communities. It is especially prized by recreational fishermen for their delicious taste and rewarding catch. (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries)

NOAA Leaps Forward on Collaborative Approach for Red Snapper

2/10/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries announced today a major collaborative step toward boosting red snapper recreational fishing opportunities in the South Atlantic. The agency invites public comments on applications for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The EFPs are designed to test new data… SEE MORE

Emergency Groundfish Rule Keeps Fleet Fishing as Species Prove More Abundant

2/7/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. New science prompts emergency changes giving fleet more flexibility. The West Coast groundfish fleet will benefit from a new emergency rule increasing catch limits for three key species that have proved more abundant than previously thought. West Coast groundfish make up the largest fishery by volume on the West… SEE MORE
North Atlantic right whale #2503 (Boomerang) and her fifth calf swimming approximately 9 miles east of the St. Mary’s River entrance in Florida. Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Aerial survey funded by NOAA Fisheries and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season 2026

1/10/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. The right whale calving season begins in mid-November and runs through mid-April. Researchers have identified 15 calves so far this calving season. Every single female North Atlantic right whale and calf are vital to this endangered species’ recovery. Since 2017, the whales have been experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event, which… SEE MORE
A group photo of the U.S. delegation to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) meeting in Seville, Spain (November 17-24, 2025). Included in the photo are NOAA’s Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries Service and acting assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere (front row, 3rd from right); and Drew Lawler, principal deputy assistant secretary for NOAA International Fisheries (front row, 2nd from left). (Image credit: NOAA)

U.S. secures major win for bluefin tuna fishery at 2025 ICCAT annual meeting

12/21/2025 - By noaa.gov, Published in noaa.gov. The United States delegation to the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in Seville, Spain, secured the largest single-year increase in U.S. bluefin tuna quota in the history of the fishery. U.S. negotiators, led by NOAA’s Principal Deputy Assistant… SEE MORE
A drone carries a suction-cup tag toward a humpback whale. A successful deployment attaches cleanly near the dorsal fin, allows the whale to continue natural behavior without disturbance, collects high-quality data, and later releases for recovery. Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA Permit #25754

Practice Makes Perfect: Drone Operations in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

12/18/2025 - By sanctuaries.noaa.gov, Published in sanctuaries.noaa.gov. A well-placed multi-sensor tag on a humpback whale allows researchers to track its underwater movements and observe its behavior. But how do whale researchers practice dropping these suction cup tags from a drone onto the back of a massive ocean animal? With a surfboard, of… SEE MORE
Project team staff operate a water cannon to distribute oyster shells across the project area. Credit: Justine Lundsted/NOAA

New Jersey Exceeds Goals for Shell Recycling Program Expansion

12/16/2025 - By coast.noaa.gov, Published in coast.noaa.gov. Despite rising water temperatures, disease, and other challenges, an oyster reef in New Jersey’s Mullica River holds fast as one of the last self-sustaining populations along the state’s Atlantic coast. Historically abundant on the East Coast, oysters have experienced a major decline in the last… SEE MORE
Image Credits: Noaa.

NOAA/British Geological Survey Release 2025 World Magnetic Model Report

12/14/2025 - By nesdis.noaa.gov, Published in nesdis.noaa.gov. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the British Geological Survey have released their joint Technical Report for the 2025 World Magnetic Model (WMM 2025), the standard navigation model for the U.S. Department of Defense and the global public which provides critical global data for navigation systems… SEE MORE
NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite captured images of hurricanes Imelda (left) and Humberto (right) churning off the U.S. East Coast on Sept. 30, 2025. (Image credit: NOAA Satellites)

2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Marked by Striking Contrasts

11/30/2025 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. Seasonal activity fell within NOAA’s predicted ranges The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ends on November 30, was notable for its striking contrast — wavering between periods of relative calm and bursts of intense activity, generating very powerful storms. Overall, the season fell within the predicted ranges… SEE MORE