12/08/2025
From the Northeast Cooperative Research Branch:
Dear Partners in the Fishing Industry,
You spend more time on the water than anyone else. You see changes before the data catches up.
We are putting together the annual "State of the Ecosystem" report for the management councils. The goal is to give them a real picture of what’s happening in the Northeast right now—not just what the models say.
We need your on-the-water intel.
• Are you seeing species where they shouldn't be?
• Are you seeing species at different times than normal?
• Are water temperatures or colors looking off?
• Are you catching anything weird?
For example, we’ve gotten reports that 2025 was a great year for billfish and tuna because of changes in their diet. Here is what we reported for our 2025 Ecosystem Highlights: https://tinyurl.com/msz5s8dd
If you’ve seen something unusual this season, shoot us a quick note. We want to make sure this report reflects what’s actually happening out on the grounds.
Email us at: northeast.ecosystem.highlights@noaa.gov
