NOAA News

A record six fish populations were declared rebuilt to healthy levels in 2011, bringing the number of rebuilt U.S. marine fish populations in the last 11 years to 27, according to a report to Congress out today from NOAA’s Fisheries Service.

NOAA’s Fisheries Service is accepting public comment on a proposed rule requiring turtle excluder devices (TEDs) for skimmer, pusher-head, and wing-net shrimp trawls in Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic shrimp fisheries.

Warmer and drier than average temperatures continued for much of the nation in April. These temperatures, when combined with the first quarter and previous 11 months, calculate to the warmest year-to-date and 12-month periods on record for the contiguous United States.

NOAA scientists and their colleagues have discovered a biological marker in the blood of laboratory zebrafish and marine mammals that shows when they have been repeatedly exposed to low levels of domoic acid, which is potentially toxic at high levels.

NOAA’s Fisheries Service is issuing two incidental harassment authorizations to Shell for energy exploration activities in shallow waters in the Arctic during a limited period this summer. The authorizations specify measures to protect marine mammals and the subsistence interests of Alaskan Natives, and are informed by the latest science as well as lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

On May 1, two students from Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Calif. deployed a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ocean drifter into the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, contributing to a global array that yields vital environmental data. Calvin Earp and Nirupam Nigam deployed the buoy from the Sanctuary's research vessel Shearwater.

Starting today, NOAA is using a sophisticated new weather forecast computer model to improve predictions of quickly developing severe weather events including thunderstorms, winter storms and aviation hazards such as clear air turbulence.

NOAA’s National Weather Service has improved its ability to support the Tampa Bay community and its ecologically valuable environments before, during and after severe weather and other disasters. As part of its Weather-Ready Nation initiative, the National Weather Service is launching this project to provide enhanced decision and ecosystem support services to help protect residents and visitors in the Tampa Bay area.

NOAA will take several steps that may help minimize the economic loss for commercial fishermen who face cuts in Georges Bank fishery quotas, which are jointly fished and managed with Canada. One particular stock, Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, is a mid-value fish often caught incidentally while fishermen target high value stocks like cod, haddock, and scallops.

In celebration of Earth Day, three area students deployed a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ocean drifter on April 27, contributing to a global array that yields vital environmental data.

A new rule prohibiting killing, injuring, touching or disturbing whale sharks and rays is part of the final management plan, regulations and environmental assessment for NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, released by the agency today.

The recent rise in sightings of non-native Asian tiger shrimp off the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts has government scientists working to determine the cause of the increase and the possible consequences for native fish and seafood in those waters.

Earth Day continues on Maui as area students and teachers from Baldwin High School and Kihei Charter School deployed a NOAA ocean drifter today from a Trilogy Excursions vessel that departed from Lahaina Harbor.

As the nation marks the first anniversary of one of the largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are teaming up during this week to save lives from severe weather by encouraging the public to know your risk, take action, and be a force of nature by taking proactive preparedness measures and inspiring others to do the same.

From today through April 28, the public can watch live undersea video and listen in as ocean explorers at sea and ashore comment in real-time as they observe marine species, visit gas seeps and map poorly known areas of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

NOAA is proposing to remove the eastern Steller sea lion, currently deemed "threatened," from the list of endangered wildlife, after a status review by its biologists found the species is recovering sufficiently.

Getting an early jump on Earth Day, students from several Boston-area schools helped ready and deploy a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ocean drifter today, contributing to a global array that yields vital environmental data.

NOAA today released a comprehensive draft management plan and environmental assessment for the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary for public review and comment. The plan will serve as a roadmap for addressing issues facing the sanctuary over the next five years.

As the nation kicks off maritime celebrations to commemorate the War of 1812, NOAA is releasing special navigation products that will help recreational boaters enjoy the festivities safely.

NOAA has made sea floor maps and other data on the world’s coasts, continental shelves and deep ocean available for easy viewing online.