News & Announcements

NOAA Fisheries marks 50 years of marine mammal science, conservation, and recovery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Tribes and local governments play an important role in collecting marine mammal data and responding to entangled and stranded marine animals throughout remote areas of Alaska.

Through collaborative research, scientists are learning vital information about fur seal and sea lion biology and ecology from a surprising source.

Learn more about seals, marine mammals that are part of the pinniped family, which means "fin-footed" in Latin.

Looking ahead to summer 2021, scientists plan to further test drone to help conduct their research more efficiently.

This pale pup contrasts with its dark-furred companions.

Scientists successfully tested the feasibility of using Saildrones to follow individual fur seals over long distances while simultaneously assessing their prey and habitat.

A NOAA Fisheries partnership is developing imaging technology for drones that could significantly reduce cost, risk, and disturbance in marine mammal surveys.

The following is the first feature in a multi-part series about NOAA Fisheries Partnerships in Alaska. NOAA Fisheries is strengthening relationships and building partnerships with the commercial fishing industry, environmental community, academia and private businesses to broaden our expertise and maximize agency resources to better fulfill our scientific and management mission of monitoring, protecting and sustaining Alaska’s valuable natural marine resources. Special thanks to Ben Shouse, Lenfest Ocean Program, Jeremy Sterling, NOAA Fisheries/Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and Ivonne Ortiz, the University of Washington’s Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO) for pulling this feature together.

Since July, satellite tags have been collecting data about fur seal foraging behavior while autonomous Saildrones collect data on fur seal prey. Now it’s time to recover that data—and that requires a down to earth approach.