Home Page - Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Interdisciplinary Team of Scientists Embark on an Advanced Technologies Research Cruise
Posted: October 04, 2004

Center scientists are leading an interdisciplinary scientific team from Washington, Oregon, and California on a two-week advanced technologies research cruise to explore a deepwater ecosystem, Cherry Bank, off the coast of Southern California. During this cruise, scientists will use in situ acoustic and optical instruments to better understand how these technologies can inform and improve assessments of fisheries and their ecosystems. More...

Photo courtesy of the Native Fish Society

Draft of the Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Historical Population Report is Available for Public Review
Posted: September 27, 2004

NOAA Fisheries has released a public review draft of the Oregon Coast Coho Historical Population Report, which was prepared by a committee of the Oregon and Northern California Coast Technical Recovery Team. This Technical Recovery Team is co-led by the Center and is responsible for developing delisting criteria and guidance for salmon recovery planning on the Oregon and Northern Califorina coasts. This report is an important step toward developing a recovery plan for Oregon Coast coho salmon. Comments on the draft report are due by November 15th. More...

Center Receives Coastal America Partnership Award
Posted: September 13, 2004

The Center is one of twenty organizations that was recognized today with a Coastal America Partnership Award for efforts to protect, preserve, and restore the Skagit River Basin. This Presidential award recognizes groups and processes that work collaboratively to achieve results and was presented by Mr. James Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, at the Restore America's Estuaries Conference in Seattle, WA. The Center's freshwater and estuarine research and life-cycle modeling efforts have assisted in the development of fish habitat restoration efforts in the Skagit River Basin.

Center Scientists Embark on ECOHAB Cruise
Posted: September 08, 2004

From September 8-28, Center scientists will be participating in the third ECOHAB Pacific Northwest cruise aboard the R/V Atlantis. ECOHAB Pacific Northwest is a 5-year multi-disciplinary project that is studying the physiology, toxicology, ecology, and oceanography of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species off the Pacific Northwest Coast. Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species produce domoic acid, which can accumulate in razor clams, Dungeness crab, mussels, anchovies, and sardines. Marine mammals and humans who consume contaminated shellfish or fish can become ill or in some cases die. This year, in addition to the interdisciplinary team of scientists onboard, the ECOHAB cruise will host a Seattle area teacher through the National Science Foundation's Teacher at Sea Program. More...

New Center for Oceans and Human Health
Posted: August 31, 2004

NOAA has designated the Northwest Fisheries Science Center as one of three Centers of Excellence in Oceans and Human Health. This West Coast Center for Oceans and Human Health will use a broad-based ecosystem approach and state-of-the-art biotechnology, models, and environmental assessment to investigate the distribution and persistence of harmful pathogens, biotoxins, and toxic chemicals in seafood (fish and shellfish). The center will also use marine mammals and fish as sentinel species to investigate current and potential human health risks, like cancer and immune suppression, from pathogens, biotoxins, and toxic chemicals. This research will provide the information needed to make sound decisions about the risks and benefits of seafood consumption and to support natural resource and human health managers in forecasting and reducing threats to human health. Research will be interdisciplinary and collaborative. Key partners include the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, University of Washington, Institute for Systems Biology, The Marine Mammal Center, University of California, Davis, Washington State University, and Oregon State University. More...

Diver preparing to dive and release tagged lingcod

Scientists Release Tagged Lingcod to Better Understand their Movement and Habitat Use
Posted: August 13, 2004

Center scientists, in cooperation with the Squaxin Island Tribe, released 14 tagged lingcod into South Puget Sound on Thursday to better understand their movement and habitat use. These lingcod were raised at the Center's facility at Montlake and are implanted with acoustic tags. Scientists will track the lingcod using an array of acoustic receivers. Lingcod populations in South Puget Sound are at historically low levels. To improve management options for lingcod and other marine species, it is critical to have data about where the fish go and what habitats they use.