Fisheries & Aquaculture

Supporting U.S. Seafood

Fisheries are a cornerstone of coastal livelihoods. In the U.S., commercial and recreational fishing support over 1.7 million jobs and contribute more than $200 billion to the economy annually. Commercial and subsistence fisheries, along with the growing aquaculture industry, supply the country with a reliable and healthy food source. Recreational fishing supports tourism and draws millions of anglers to the coasts each year.

Beyond economics, fisheries play a crucial role in preserving the cultural and social fabric of communities nationwide. For many tribes, fish and marine mammals hold deep traditional significance.

Ocean observing systems support fishing practices that safeguard these important resources. IOOS Regional Associations track and monitor stressors like ocean acidification (lowering pH), hypoxia (low oxygen zones), and other water quality issues that threaten both ecosystems and public health. IOOS’ continuous flow of data keeps our fisheries strong, our oceans healthy, and our coastal economies vibrant.

IOOS IN ACTION

IOOS Regional Associations work to understand the impacts and drivers of ocean acidification. For over a decade, IOOS Regional Associations and the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program have supported six Coastal Acidification Networks (CANs) across the U.S. With membership from academia, industry, and both governmental and non-governmental organizations, CANs boost public awareness, evaluate risk, coordinate action to address on-the-ground needs, and equip regions with the necessary tools to prepare for and adapt to this threat.

Ocean acidification is a known stressor on shellfish and other marine resources. In the Gulf, which supports some of the largest recreational and commercial fisheries in the country, the Gulf of America Ocean Acidification Network (GCAN) collaborates with regional efforts across the country and in the Caribbean, as well as with federal resource managers.

Regional Association Support

IOOS Regional Associations support a host of tools that directly assist fisheries and aquaculture professionals, from web-based mapping for aquaculture planning and permitting to video tutorials and data products that help fishers visualize where safe, ideal conditions occur. IOOS data are also integrated into federal reports and assessments, such NOAA’s Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (EIA), that help ocean and coastal resource managers make decisions using the best available science. Digestible, real-time information bolsters our ability to set responsible fishery quotas, implement spatial or temporal management measures, and perform management strategy evaluations.

 

Ocean Observations for Seafood Production

Real-time ocean data to support daily operations and reduce risks on the farm, on the water, every day

Our Partners in Action: IOOS Making a Difference

Alaska Native and remote coastal fishing communities in the Chugach region rely heavily on the Gulf of Alaska for economic and cultural well being. Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute has the longest standing ocean acidification and monitoring program in the State of Alaska and our organization relies heavily on the AOOS data portal and services it provides to better assist our Tribal communities with coastal natural resources management and protection initiatives.

Sean Den Adel, Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute

As a member of the Connecticut and National Commercial Fishing and Seafood Communities, my family utilizes IOOS regional (NERACOOS) resources to sustain our livelihood. My husband is a commercial bait fisherman. He utilizes small vessels to set and retrieve his crab pots and seine nets. Data products such as wind and wave information are paramount to our safety on the water. Water quality data (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen) are helpful in determining when and where to set.

Katie O'Brien-Clayton, Connecticut resident

As a Shellfish Aquaculture Facility and a 40 year business with 300+ employees, I depend on real time data from observation systems supported by CeNCOOS. We operate in Tomales Bay and Humboldt Bay, California, and we need the projected oceanic conditions as well to make strategic decisions at our locations, especially in light of the changing conditions.

David Terry Sawyer, Hog Island Oyster Company

IOOS data is very important to Monterey Abalone Company! We are an in-the-ocean abalone farm and IOOS data is the only way for us to assess local ocean environment conditions such as harmful algae blooms, upwelling, including basic parameters such as temperature, salinity, pH, etc.

Arthur Seavey, Monterey Abalone Company

Data collection from IOOS informs environmental impact statements and other data needs (Federal and state level) on protected or endangered species, as well as species that are determined to be overfished/overfishing that do not have protected or endangered designations, but whose stock status is of critical concern.

Holly White, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing sector that relies heavily on accurate environmental data to make informed decisions regarding site selection, harmful algal blooms, and management practices. The data provided by NERACOOS supports aquaculture operations by monitoring water quality, temperature, and other key parameters essential for the health and productivity of aquatic organisms.

Meggan Dwyer, University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute