Northeast Ecosystem Dynamics and Assessment: Our Research

Our Major Research Areas

Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management

Managing resources to reflect the relationships among all ecosystem components, including human and nonhuman species and the environments in which they live.

Impacts of Climate Change on Fisheries

There are various components that contribute to climate change and variability in the U.S. Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem.

Learn more about how climate change affects fisheries

Multispecies and Ecosystem Modeling

Development of multispecies and ecosystem models has an extensive history at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in consultation with regional management councils.

Learn about how we develop and use modeling in ecosystem research 

Habitat Modeling

Species on the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf have been shifting over time, possibly as a result of a combination of factors. These shifts are visible in movies of the distribution of key species.

Learn how we use habitat modeling to track species distribution

Primary Productivity and Food Webs

How many organisms can live and grow in a given area depends on the amount of photosynthesis by plants at the base of the food web.

Learn about our research in primary productivity and food webs

Our Primary Products

• Integrated Ecosystem Assessments
  Providing a framework that brings social and ecological science and management advice to managers in a manner that is useful under current governance structures while supporting the adoption of Ecosystem-Based Management.
• State of the Ecosystem Reports
  Synthesizing available information relevant to fishery management in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.
• Ecosystem Status Reports
  Linking information across indicators to give an integrated overview of ecosystem status relevant to ecosystem management decisions.
• Current Conditions
  Providing a semiannual review of the physical and biological status of the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Ecosystem
• Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Profiles
  Integrating ecosystem and socioeconomic information into Northeast U.S. fisheries advice for decision makers. 

Science Program Reviews

• Review of Modeling Approaches in Support of Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management, 2011
• Ecosystem and Climate Science Review for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 2016
• Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management Strategy Review for Georges Bank, 2018

Contact Us

Ecosystem Dynamics and Assessment Branch