Killer whales are the only natural predator of baleen whales. More solitary than toothed whales, baleen whales face predatory attacks from killer whales, especially mother and calf pairs. When attacked, some species fight back, while others choose flight. But whale species also produce loud underwater songs…what stops killer whales from homing in on their calls and attacking them? New acoustic research by Trevor Branch sheds light on why.

You may think aquatic and fishery science is all about fish, whales and oceans, but Iris Haley’s research is demonstrating that essentially anything to do with water is related to this field of study. What is Iris, a SAFS undergrad, investigating? The link between lake visitation and its relationship with heatwaves using cellphone data!

A collaborative network of agency and tribal scientists and resource managers, university faculty and students, and community volunteers are diligently working together to unlock the secrets of the Dungeness crab’s life cycle in the Salish Sea. The Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group (PCRG) is leading this unprecedented effort, generating vital data and fostering robust relationships to ensure the long-term sustainability of this ecologically, economically and culturally-important species.

Small-scale fisheries play a significant but overlooked role in global fisheries production and are key to addressing hunger and malnutrition while supporting livelihoods around the world, according to research featured in Nature in Jan. 2025. The study was published by an international team of scientists, including Professor Chris Anderson from the UW SAFS.

NOAA Ocean Exploration is excited to announce that the application for the 2025 Explorer-in-Training program is now open!
This year, the Explorer-in-Training program will feature two paid internship options: (a) 10-week, summertime opportunities and (b) 2-4 week expedition-based opportunities. The 10-week internships provide students an opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge through long-term projects supported by mentors in NOAA Ocean Exploration and partner organizations. 

Applications are invited for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Scholar appointment to be held at the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University

Ashley Townes writes about her experience presenting her doctoral research at the International Society for Behavioral Ecology (ISBE) Congress in Melbourne, Australia in the fall of 2024, describing it as an incredibly profound experience. Engaging with fellow researchers and ecologists from around the globe, all passionate and committed to the field of behavioral ecology enriched her perspective and deepened her own commitment to her research. 

Through funding provided by the Oceankind Foundation, the Marine Landscape Ecology Lab supports the paid participation of one undergraduate intern each summer. The intern will support projects focused on the mapping of sea lion communities in California, and rocky intertidal communities in British Columbia, California, and Washington. A $6,000 stipend is provided as part of the student’s participation.
Requirements:

Be a University of Washington undergraduate student enrolled in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degree program. 

Reducing Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) bycatch in the Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) bottom trawl fishery
We are looking to hire a junior or senior undergraduate student to assist in the development of a Bycatch Reduction Performance Indicator (BPI) as part of a NOAA-sponsored halibut bycatch reduction device (BRD) project. The student will conduct/assist in up to three tasks: literature review, BPI development, and BRD scoring. 

Dash Dicksion, a SAFS undergrad, got to return to his home island of Oahu during his NOAA HPP internship in the summer of 2024, working with the Ecosystem Sciences Division of NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. He spent 30 days at sea, plus time in the lab, focused on the biocultural and ecological aspects of fish larvae across Hawai’i Pae ‘Aina (the Hawaiian archipelago).