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The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is one of the scientific research arms of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The center administers programs that support the domestic and international conservation and management of living marine resources.

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Mission is linked to the NOAA Strategic Plan to  

build sustainable fisheries.

recover protected species.

maintain healthy living marine resource habitats.

manage international fisheries of highly migratory species in the Pacific (Department of State priority).
The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is one of the scientific research arms of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The laboratory administers programs that support the domestic and international conservation and management of living marine resources.

A staff of over 160 is employed by the Science Center. In addition, the NOAA Corps operates the ship Oscar Elton Sette in support of Science Center fishery and protected species research.

Work at the Science Center is focused in three areas: fisheries and coral reef research and protected species research and recovery. The laboratory conducts biological, ecological, and economic research in support of five fishery management plans, which include pelagic, crustacean, bottomfish, coral reef and precious coral. The science center also conducts fisheries oceanographic research from a marine ecosystem standpoint. Our research and analysis of the resulting fisheries data support fisheries policy and management. Our protected species efforts examine the status and problems affecting the populations of the Hawaiian monk seal and the green sea turtle and makes recommendations for their recovery.

The Science Center is organized into five research divisions: Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Fish Biology and Stock Assessment Division, Ecosystems and Oceanography Division, Fishery Monitoring and Socio-economics Division, and Protected Species Division. The Director's Office, Administration Services, Information and Technical Services, and Operations Management and Information Division,  support these research investigations. In addition, the regional CoastWatch Site and the Kewalo Research Facility are also responsibilities of the Science Center.

The Science Center shares facilities and conducts cooperative studies with a variety of federal and state agencies, universities and private organizations. The overall goal of the Western Pacific Fisheries Information Network (WPacFIN) is to provide fisheries data and information to island governments, NMFS, and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council to assist in the management of resources and fisheries for the western Pacific region.

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Goals

Provide scientific information and advice for the following:
  • Management of domestic fisheries in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the central and western Pacific.
  • Support of U.S. interests in the international management of Pacific HMS.
  • Recovery and management of the highly endangered Hawaiian monk seal and protected Pacific sea turtles and assessment and mitigation of seabird mortality resulting from fisheries interactions.
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