Highly Migratory Species | NOAA Fisheries

Highly Migratory Species | NOAA Fisheries
Highly Migratory Species
Highly migratory fish travel long distances and often cross domestic and international boundaries. These pelagic species live in the water of the open ocean, although they may spend part of their life cycle in nearshore waters. Highly migratory species managed by NOAA Fisheries include tunas, some sharks, swordfish, billfish, and other highly sought-after fish such as Pacific mahi mahi.
These highly migratory species are targeted by U.S. commercial and recreational fishermen and by foreign fishing fleets. Because they migrate long distances and live primarily in the open ocean, only a small fraction of the total harvest of these species is taken within U.S. waters.
In the United States, NOAA Fisheries sustainably manages highly migratory species under the
Magnuson-Stevens Act
in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans:
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
, including the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) and Caribbean
West Coast Highly Migratory Species
Responsible management also requires international cooperation through a number of agreements and regional fishery management organizations including the
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna
, Commission on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, and
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
More Information
Sustainable Fisheries
International Affairs
Commercial Fishing
Recreational Fishing
HMS Fishing Permits
Species News
Feature Story
Western Atlantic Provides Refuge for Bluefin Tuna
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
Feature Story
Celebrating our Top Taggers for Citizen Science Month
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
Feature Story
New Research Reveals Broad Spawning Distribution for Bluefin Tuna
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
Feature Story
Recreational Anglers Help Boost Bluefin Tuna Research
Southeast
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Multimedia
Video
Video: Rebuilding an Olympic Peninsula River for Blueback Sockeye Salmon
West Coast
Photo Gallery
2026 Swordfish and Billfish Art Calendar Contest: Winners Gallery
National
Photo Gallery
2024 Bottom Trawl Survey in Photos
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Photo Gallery
2025 Tuna Art Calendar Contest: Winners Gallery
National
All Multimedia
Research
2023 Top Fish Taggers for the Cooperative Tagging Center
NOAA Fisheries greatly appreciates the many tagging teams and anglers who tag and release fish to support our science. Here, we highlight the top taggers from 2023.
Southeast
Commercial Fishing Business Cost Survey
Our survey seeks to better understand the costs associated with commercial fishing in the Northeast.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Monitoring the Ecosystem in the Northeast
The most comprehensive, ongoing program exploring marine resources and oceanographic conditions in the Northwest Atlantic. Our analyses inform local and international fisheries management, protected species research, and climate science.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Cooperative Research in the Southeast
Cooperative research involves partnerships between the fishing industry and scientists. We work together to improve our understanding of ocean ecosystems and support the management of sustainable and productive fisheries.
Southeast
More Research
International Collaboration
Fish and other marine animals travel beyond national boundaries.
Species
27
species match your filter criteria.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Atlantic Shortfin Mako Shark
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna
Blacknose Shark
Bonnethead Shark
Finetooth Shark
North Atlantic Albacore Tuna
North Atlantic Swordfish