For centuries, cod were the backbone of New England’s fisheries and a key species in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. Today, cod stocks are on the verge of collapse, hovering at 3-4 percent of sustainable levels. Even painful cuts to the fishery have failed to slow this rapid decline, surprising both fishers and fisheries managers. Now […]
“Start haul back,” the NOAA Corps watch officer says to the fisherman operating the winch controls. The officer monitors the helm and navigation settings to maintain a smooth ride while the fisherman, a NOAA wage mariner, begins the slow process of reeling in a trawl net from the depths. They’re aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson in […]
Ten years; 500,000 landing reports. Fisheries managers, fishers, and seafood processors across the state of Alaska are celebrating those two milestones this month for the innovative Interagency Electronic Reporting System, better known as eLandings. Responding to industry requests for electronic reporting, staff from NOAA Fisheries, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the International […]
For 25 years, methodical research by scientists has investigated the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 on Alaskan communities and ecosystems. A new study released today into the effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska shows that embryonic salmon and herring exposed to very low levels of crude oil […]