Science & Data

Physical and oceanographic conditions affect where fish and crab species spawn, feed and develop. This information has important implications for future fish and crab population size.

Scientists at our Auke Bay Laboratories conduct research to understand ecological processes that drive salmon populations in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. They also monitor and analyze bycatch of salmon in other commercial fisheries for groundfish.

NOAA Fisheries scientists in Alaska partnered with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences to provide a comprehensive assessment of the northeastern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea.

Shortraker rockfish (Sebastes borealis) ranges from southeastern Kamchatka, north into the Bering Sea, through the Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska, and south to southern California. The center of abundance appears to be Alaskan waters.

Little is known about the winter distribution of the critically endangered eastern population of North Pacific right whale but it has been proposed that the eastern Aleutian Islands, specifically Unimak Pass, be a possible migratory route for individuals.

The Groundfish Economic Status (SAFE) Reports summarizes available economic data about the federal groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands.

Combining multiple molecular techniques to better understand and protect endangered marine wildlife.

Evaluation of pelagic plankton community structure as observed on nighttime scuba dives and compared with environmental data.

Recruitment Energetics and Coastal Assessment scientists provide fish processing services to several Auke Bay Laboratories. The goal is to better understand recruitment mechanisms and processes that describe the growth and survival of these populations relative to their prey, predators, and potential competitors. Sample processing in our labs focuses on measurements of fish size, energy density, and diet and feeding success of juvenile salmon and associated fish, as well as the abundance and composition of their zooplankton prey fields.

Our team surveys and cleans up derelict fishing nets and ocean plastics from the reef and shoreline habitats of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, an ecologically and culturally significant area.