NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries conducts scientific surveys to assess the abundance and distribution of fish species in US waters. These surveys are the gold standard for fisheries management - the official data that governments, scientists, and commercial fisheries rely on.
Unlike crowd-sourced fishing reports or angler estimates, NOAA surveys use standardized scientific methods to collect accurate, unbiased data. Survey vessels deploy specialized gear at predetermined locations, recording every fish caught along with size, age, reproductive status, and environmental conditions like water temperature, salinity, and depth.
This data is essential for understanding fish populations, their habitats, and seasonal movements. By visualizing this official data on Fish Fathom, you gain access to scientific intelligence that was previously available only to researchers and fisheries managers. Now you can fish with the same data the professionals use.