Upcoming Events
June 2, 2017
May 22, 2017
About Us
The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) was created by Congress in 1997 to recommend marine research activities to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. For almost two decades, NPRB has been committed to better understanding the waters surrounding Alaska as they relate to pressing fishery management issues and important ecosystem information needs.
Since 2002, NPRB has supported three major ecosystem research programs, over 380 multi-annual projects, 56 graduate students, and three long-term monitoring projects. Over 120 different institutions (national and international) have received funding, resulting in more than 580 peer-reviewed journal publications, covering research themes that include fishes & invertebrates, fish habitat, oceanography, lower trophic level productivity, seabirds, marine mammals, and humans.
Research Programs
Through a competitive proposal process, NPRB supports peer-reviewed scientific research in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands, and the Arctic Ocean ecosystems. NPRB maintains four scientific programmatic approaches:
Connect with the Arctic Program!
NPRB has just launched a blog and social media site completely dedicated to the Arctic Program in preparation for the Program's first research cruise in June 2017. Stay informed with blog posts submitted by folks aboard the 260ft R/V Sikuliaq and follow conversations on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Current Funding Opportunities
NPRB will be releasing two requests for proposals (RFPs) in October 2016. The Graduate Student Research Awards and the Core Program (formally known as the Annual Research Program) are annual calls for proposals.
Alaska Marine Science Symposium
Each year, NPRB, along with several other co-sponsors, hosts Alaska's premier marine research conference. Speakers at the symposium deliver marine science findings from the Arctic, Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands, and the Gulf of Alaska.
Conference WebsiteAnnual Photo Contest
Since 2007, NPRB has conducted an annual photo contest specific to sea life, seascapes, coastal scenes, and marine research within the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. The contest is open to both professional and amateur photographers.
Photo Credit (from top to bottom, left to right): Elizabeth Siddon, Nirupam Nigam, Reid Brewer, Glenn Aronwits, John Schwieder, Nathan Banfield, Leif Mjos, Morgen Young, Heidi Cline, Luke Smithwick, Mark Henspeter, Rich Brenner
Large Marine Ecosystems
Alaska’s marine ecosystems are some of the most productive regions in the world, supporting vast and varied populations of fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. They provide over 40% of the commercial fish landings in the United States and generate an abundance of resources for subsistence and recreational users. Each has a suite of atmospheric and oceanographic features within which marine species have adapted strategies for growth and survival. NPRB classifies waters off Alaska into three distinct ecosystems:
Research Themes
NPRB places a priorty on research that addresses pressing fishery management issues and imporant ecosystem information needs. This research can be further subdivided into the following research themes.