NOAA Fisheries Alaska

06/06/2026

It’s Harbor Seal Pupping Season! 🦭 Pupping season usually lasts from mid-May until July, peaking in June. This season, you might see pups resting onshore without their mothers. Don’t panic! Chances are, she’s close by or hunting for food and will be back within 48 hours

Below are some tips to keep in mind if you see a lone pup:

🫶 Give it space: make sure you and any pets stay at least 100 yards away!

📞 Don’t interfere: if a pup looks injured or distressed, call the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (877) 925-7773. You can also help by taking photos, but your priority should be to keep your distance.

🛑 Be aware: if you or your pets get too close, the pup’s mom might not return.

🔁Educate others: share these tips and articles with friends and family to help keep people and wildlife safe.

Find more information and learn what else you can do to help keep these pups safe here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/share-shore-harbor-seal-pups

06/05/2026

Near real-time bottom temperatures are flowing in from our Aleutian Islands and Eastern Bering Sea bottom trawl surveys!

NOAA Fisheries biologists partner up with commercial fishermen to conduct these surveys on four chartered vessels: the F/V Alaska Provider and F/V Ocean Explorer in the Aleutians and the F/V Alaska Knight and F/V Northwest Explorer in the Bering Sea.

Today’s maps show two days of surveying in the Aleutians and four in the Bering. The first stations in the Bering Sea indicate colder bottom temperatures than the time series mean over the last 43 years of surveying. Follow along to see how these maps progress!

More info at this link:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/science-data/bottom-trawl-survey-temperature-and-progress-maps

IMAGE 1: NOAA Fisheries is conducting the Aleutian Islands bottom trawl survey. The near real-time ocean bottom temperatures depicted were collected June 3–4, 2026. On June 4, six stations were surveyed by the F/V Alaska Provider and sixteen stations were surveyed by the F/V Ocean Explorer. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

IMAGE 2: NOAA Fisheries is conducting the eastern Bering Sea bottom trawl survey. The near real-time ocean bottom temperatures depicted were collected June 1– 4, 2026. On June 4, four stations were surveyed by the F/V Alaska Knight and four stations were surveyed by the F/V Northwest Explorer. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

IMAGE 3: The time series mean bottom temperatures from the NOAA Fisheries eastern Bering Sea bottom trawl survey (1982-2025; 43 years). Credit: NOAA Fisheries

05/30/2026

How are we spending the weekend? Survey prep, baby!!!

Over the last several weeks, our scientists have been planning, packing, and shipping gear to Dutch Harbor. And this week staff have been flying up there—all to get ready for our annual groundfish surveys!

2026 marks the 44th year of the eastern Bering Sea survey. This region stretches across wide continental shelves with muddy seafloors and famously foggy weather…so when the sun comes out, we celebrate it. 🌫️☀️

And this is the 15th Aleutian Islands survey, which we’ve conducted as a standardized biannual survey since 1991. The topography around these islands is punctuated by steep slopes, rocky pinnacles, and deepwater habitats shaped by volcanoes, strong currents, and dramatic weather. 🌋🌊

Follow along as we publish daily bottom temperature maps during the surveys at these links:

Bering Sea - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/science-data/near-real-time-temperatures-2026-bering-sea-bottom-trawl-survey

Aleutian Islands - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/science-data/near-real-time-temperatures-2026-aleutian-islands-bottom-trawl-survey

Vessels will depart Dutch Harbor this weekend or early next week. Stay tuned, and see you out there! 🌊☀️🌧️❄️

05/28/2026

Want to be part of our Information Technology (IT) team? 💻🐟

We’re hiring two positions!

Supervisory IT Specialist at a senior-level (ZP-4)
Apply by June 8 at:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/870410100 (open to all US Citizens or Nationals)
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/870410200 (open to Status Candidates)
You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

IT Specialist (customer support) at an entry-level (ZP-2) or mid-career (ZP-3) level
Apply by June 10 at:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/870725100 (open to all US Citizens or Nationals)
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/870725600 (open to Status Candidates)
You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

05/18/2026

Capelin, a “sea canary,” is an important indicator species.

A new study by Alaska Fisheries Science Center scientists reveals that in Alaska caused a dramatic decline in capelin, which serve as critical forage fish. Their decline reduced available energy for predators like whales, seals, seabirds, and salmon to less than 1 percent of pre-heatwave values.

The study, focusing on two decades of data, found that capelin abundance and body condition crashed during warm years, forcing the fish into deeper, cooler waters and even disrupting their spawning schedule. This dramatic change in prey supply has been linked to mass mortality events for seabirds, marine mammals, and commercially important fish species like Pacific cod.

Read the full story here:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/capelin-sea-canary-marine-ecosystem-change-response-heatwaves



IMAGE 1 - A humpback whale feeds on schooling forage fish in Prince William Sound Alaska. Photo taken under NOAA Fisheries Permit #24378 Credit: NOAA Fisheries/John Moran

IMAGE 2 - Multiple species of juvenile fish (mostly herring in this picture) prior to sorting, counting, measuring, and sample collection aboard the survey vessel. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries/Rob Suryan

IMAGE 3 - Capelin being measured aboard the survey vessel. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries/Rob Suryan

05/15/2026

Public commenting is OPEN—for two more weeks only. 🗓️

Help Shape Alaska’s Aquaculture Opportunity Area Process! This is your chance to provide input and suggestions for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) evaluating alternatives for siting seaweed and shellfish facilities in Alaska.

The comment period will close on May 28. Learn more and submit your input 👉 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-fisheries-asks-public-comment-identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska



Image 1: Sugar kelp grown at Sea Quester Farms in Alaska. Credit NOAA Fisheries
Image 2: Oysters grown on Alaskan aquaculture farms. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

05/11/2026

This new issue highlights research from NOAA Fisheries and University of Washington scientists, including several from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. From ecosystem science to community impacts and emerging research, it offers a snapshot of the work that contributes to our understanding of the ocean, including:

- How warming and acidifying waters in the Bering Sea are reshaping the future for red king and Tanner crab

- California sea lion research, with contributions from Sharon Melin (NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center)

- Intern experience in Nome, Alaska by Anjali Shah, reflecting on 9 weeks at NOAA Ship Fairweather

-A postcard from the field in Kotzebue by Jiaxu Zhang (UW CICOES & NOAA)

CICOES Magazine The CICOES Magazine offers an annual snapshot of the innovation, collaboration, and impact that define our research community. Drawing from across the Cooperative Institute’s three academic partners—the University of Washington, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Oregon Stat...

04/10/2026

We had a great turnout at our Gulf of Alaska Aquaculture Atlas Rollout & Webtool Planning Workshop in Anchorage!

This was the first of three workshops designed to bring together voices from across Alaska’s aquaculture community to explore new tools and help shape what comes next.

This isn’t just a presentation. It’s a working session to co-create tools that support aquaculture planning across Alaska.

Participants representing 7+ sectors across Alaska’s aquaculture community, explored the newly developed Aquaculture Atlas and rolled up their sleeves to provide hands-on input that will directly shape NOAA’s upcoming Aquaculture Explorer Tool.

Next stops: Juneau (April 15) and Kodiak (April 17). Register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/c01522cb-b2ee-490e-ad89-f2b3eeab0af1/summary

Thank you to everyone who shared their time, expertise, and perspectives to help advance sustainable aquaculture planning in Alaska.

Image 1: Hump Island Oyster Co. oyster and seaweed farm in Ketchikan. Credit: NOAA

Image 2: Facilitator Rich Wilson welcomes attendees to the Anchorage workshop and introduces Alaska Regional Aquaculture Coordinator Alicia Bishop. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries/Ken Riley

Image 3: Participants work in breakout groups to answer questions and give their input on the Aquaculture Explorer Tool. Photo credit: Rich Wilson, Seatone Consulting

04/03/2026

Our DNA detectives are hard at work! 🧬🐟

They’ve shed new light on the distinct cod populations in Alaska and developed a new tool to pinpoint the population of an unknown fish.

For instance, scientists can now collect a juvenile Pacific cod from the shores of Kodiak Island, and determine which population its parents came from. This helps understand the movements and distributions of each population.

Furthermore, they found that fish from the Western Gulf of Alaska and eastern Bering Sea are genetically indistinguishable—suggesting there is a lot of overlap between these regions.

This research provides critical, novel information for setting appropriate stock boundaries and management strategies for Pacific cod. Read the full story here:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/genetics-shines-new-light-cod-populations-and-distributions-alaska



IMAGE 1: Scientists measure juvenile Pacific cod and extract tissues for genetic analysis. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Johanna Vollenweider

IMAGE 2: Map of the distribution of sampling sites within the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea for the study. Credit: Schaal et al. 2026

IMAGE 3: Pacific cod and northern rockfish swimming among coral. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

03/27/2026