Two new reports show the Northeast continental shelf marine ecosystems are experiencing notable ocean warming and changes in oceanography. The reports, issued annually, include new indicators this year that evaluate environmental justice concerns. The Northeast shelf extends from North Carolina to Maine and is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the United States. The annual New England and Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem reports capture the big picture of the biology, climate, physical, and social conditions of the marine ecosystem. Tune in to a webinar on May 11th, 2022, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT to learn more about these reports and their findings.

We’ve kicked off our field season with the spring bottom trawl survey on the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow with some incredible photos of marine life to share. The data collected on the bottom trawl survey are used to determine the seasonal distribution, relative abundance, and biodiversity of fish and invertebrate species found on the continental shelf from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Nova Scotia, Canada. These data support science-based fisheries management and protection of marine life and ecosystems. 

The Black Sea Bass Working Group will hold a virtual stakeholder meeting on Monday, May 16 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The meeting will overview the black sea bass assessment and highlight stakeholder input before opening up for a discussion on, but not limited to, the following topics: 1) changes over time in availability, distribution, landings, and discards; 2) ecosystem drivers; 3) selectivity by gear type; and 4) socioeconomic impacts on fishing operations. To join this meeting, please register using this RSVP link before May 13. If you are unable to attend but would like to add a question or comment you can submit one via the RSVP link. The WebEx meeting link will be sent to the email you provide and can also be found on the Black Sea Bass Working Group webpage.

Where does the Atlantic surfclam grow the fastest? How will this species respond to global change, including ocean acidification, over the long term? These questions drive us to study surfclam growth around Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Molly Roberts, a postdoctoral researcher with the National Academy of Sciences and a visiting scientist at the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Sciences Center’ Milford lab, takes us behind the scenes of research on carbonate chemistry effects on the growth of this iconic species off Cape Cod.

Beth Nelson is a NOAA Fisheries observer based out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. She is among about 850 fishery observers nationwide who spend more than 71,000 days at sea while monitoring 54 commercial fisheries. As a child, Beth already knew that her future would involve the sea. While recovering after a serious car accident at age 4, she spent months watching the movie Free Willy several times a day. The film cemented a love and fascination for marine life, and sparked a desire to see more of the world. Despite growing up in landlocked upstate New York, Beth’s interest in marine science and marine mammals grew steadily and was encouraged by family and friends.

In the late 1920s, research began in Milford, Connecticut, to help expand sustainable oyster harvests. Throughout NOAA Fisheries’ Milford Laboratory's illustrious history, scientists have made fundamental contributions to our understanding of shellfish biology, working closely with the aquaculture industry and academia. Today, the lab continues to conduct state-of-the-art science that informs management for the sustainable expansion of aquaculture, provides services to the shellfish aquaculture industry, and advances new technologies through collaborative research.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center runs several standardized surveys on research cruises from Cape Hatteras to the Canadian Scotian Shelf. These surveys are conducted on selected survey vessels and also provide platforms for other programs that collect oceanographic and plankton data for monitoring the health and status of marine resources and their habitats. The data collected from our surveys are vital for assessment, management, and a wide variety of research programs. Check out the latest research cruise schedule to find out when and where we’re at sea.

We provide data and information systems, analysis, and management to support fisheries monitoring and research. Our team develops, tests, debugs, delivers, and maintains data information systems for several high-profile regional fisheries monitoring and research efforts. These programs include the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program, the Northeast Multispecies At-Sea Monitoring Program, the Electronic Monitoring Program, the Study Fleet Program, and the Gulf of Maine Bottom Longline Survey. 

This new interactive #MarineDisMAP tool provides access to distribution information for more than 800 marine species caught in NOAA Fisheries bottom trawl surveys in five regions in the United States: Northeast, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, West Coast, and Alaska. Distribution shifts have implications for our ecosystems, the fishing industry, stock assessments and management. Launch the portal to explore, visualize and interact with information on marine species distributions. 

Supporting aquaculture with science is an important aspect of our mission. Our Milford Lab is focused on shellfish aquaculture research. We work closely with the aquaculture industry and provide valuable scientific research on shellfish biology, reproduction, and response to environmental change. We recenty co-led the Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Exposition meeting in Portland, Maine, attended by more than 500 scientists, industry leaders, and ecosystem managers. Our team is developing new hatchery technology for sea scallops, conducting research on interactions between shellfish aquaculture gear and fish communities to inform decision makers, and investigating ‘ropeless’ gear for offshore aquaculture farms, all while providing algal cultures to the industry. Shellfish aquaculture is a means of increasing the amount of safe and sustainable U.S.-sourced seafood, boosting economic growth and helping keep waterways clean. It is also an area where we see increasing diversity in the seafood industry.