What We Do

The Northeast Fishery Center conducts research and develops recommendations that help federal, state, and tribal agencies build healthy populations of fish and aquatic ecosystems, and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species
. Our experts work to restore recreationally valuable fisheries, and recover endangered and threatened species. Our experts at the Lamar Fish Health Center are helping us prevent the spread of aquatic viruses and keep our wild and hatchery fish healthy; they implement the Service’s Wild Fish Health Survey and work to forecast new emerging diseases, and prevent outbreaks in the United States. 

Management and Conservation

The Northeast Fishery Center evaluates the status and health of fish and other aquatic species’ populations through stock assessments and modeling, and analyses of species movement and habitat use. We provide expertise in genetics to help with the conservation and restoration of biodiversity, including evaluating genetic diversity among populations. We also develop genetic markers and analyze genetic material recovered directly from the environment (eDNA) to help managers locate rare native species as well as invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species
, such as
Northern Snakehead.

We also develop captive breeding protocols and aquaculture methods to help with the recovery of rare or endangered species like Atlantic salmon and Chesapeake logperch, and that help with the restoration of economically valuable species like lake trout. We are also developing culture methods for native prey fish that are needed to feed top predator fishes in the Great Lakes.

The Lamar Fish Health experts provide services in pathogen detection and isolation, disease diagnosis, and provide recommendations for treatment, infection control, and maintaining biosecurity. They also provide recommendations on fish culture practices to support health of hatchery-raised fish.

Our Services

Our staff scientists provide the following services, and expertise in:

  • diagnostic and fish disease screening 
  • fish disease treatment recommendations
  • disease prevention and containment guidelines
  • biosecurity planning
  • aquaculture 
  • population genetics, genomics, and eDNA technology
  • population dynamics, fish ecology, and experimental design and statistical analyses

Our Projects and Research