Capelin are a major forage fish species in high-latitude marine ecosystems. Recent heatwaves in Alaska led to a dramatic decline in capelin abundance, which can have major impacts on predators, including marine mammals, seabirds, and fish. Twenty years ago, Dr. George Rose with Memorial University of Newfoundland called capelin “a sea canary for marine ecosystem change.” […]
NOAA Fisheries’ 12-month review shows a low risk of extinction. NOAA Fisheries has completed a status review and 12-month finding for Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon in response to a January 2024 petition. The Wild Fish Conservancy petitioned to delineate and list one or more evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered under the Endangered […]
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 resources. But in order to appreciate how […]
The 45-day comment period is open through May 28, 2026. We will also host two public scoping meetings to gather input. NOAA Fisheries filed a Notice of Intent announcing the preparation of the Alaska Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and requesting public comment. This PEIS will assess the impacts of identifying one or more […]