Fisheries Habitat: Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem | NOAA Fisheries

Fisheries Habitat: Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem | NOAA Fisheries
Fisheries Habitat in the Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem
We monitor the responses of fish species to changes in their habitat and use models to predict their future distribution.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
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Overview
Atlantic hagfish
Smooth dogfish
Chain dogfish
Spiny dogfish
Barndoor skate
Winter skate
Clearnose skate
Rosette skate
Little skate
Smooth skate
Thorny skate
Atlantic herring
Alewife
Blueback herring
Atlantic menhaden
Bay anchovy
Offshore hake
Silver hake
Atlantic cod
Haddock
Pollock
White hake
Red hake
Spotted hake
Fourbeard rockling
Cusk
Atlantic halibut
American plaice
Summer flounder
Fourspot flounder
Winter flounder
Witch flounder
Windowpane flounder
Gulf Stream flounder
Smallmouth flounder
Atlantic mackerel
Chub mackerel
Butterfish
Bluefish
Atlantic croaker
Striped bass
Black sea bass
Scup
Weakfish
Spot
Golden tilefish
Acadian redfish
Blackbelly rosefish
Longhorn sculpin
Sea raven
Alligatorfish
Northern searobin
Striped searobin
Tautog
Daubed shanny
Wrymouth
Atlantic wolffish
Ocean pout
Northern puffer
Monkfish/Goosefish
Rough scad
Shortnose greeneye
Atlantic soft pout
American lobster
Jonah crab
Atlantic rock crab
Blue crab
Lady crab
Sea scallop
Northern shortfin squid
Longfin squid
More Information
Overview
The fish that live in the Northeast U.S. continental shelf ecosystem are responding to shifting
climate conditions
with changes in regional productivity and distribution. Species distribution modeling is an effective tool to study the environmental effects on the preferred habitat of a particular species. Using machine learning methods, we have constructed distribution models for several commercially important fish and invertebrate (e.g., lobster) species of the Northeast shelf. These maps show where the species is most likely to be found during the spring and fall seasons. They also show the areas where species distribution is increasing or decreasing over time. Updated 2022.
Atlantic hagfish
Myxine glutinosa
Atlantic hagfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom Row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Smooth dogfish
Mustelus canis
Smooth dogfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Chain dogfish
Scyliorhinus retifer
Chain dogfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Spiny dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Learn more about spiny dogfish
Spiny dogfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Barndoor skate
Dipturus laevis
Learn more about barndoor skate
Barndoor skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Winter skate
Leucoraja ocellata
Learn more about winter skate
Winter skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Clearnose skate
Raja eglanteria
Learn more about clearnose skate
Clearnose skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Rosette skate
Leucoraja garmani
Learn more about rosette skate
Rosette skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Little skate
Leucoraja erinacea
Learn more about little skate
Little skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Smooth skate
Malacoraja senta
Learn more about smooth skate
Smooth skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Thorny skate
Amblyraja radiata
Learn more about thorny skate
Thorny skate distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic herring
Clupea harengus
Learn more about Atlantic herring
Atlantic herring distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Alewife
Alosa pseudoharengus
Learn more about alewife.
Alewife distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Blueback herring
Alosa aestivalis
Learn more about blueback herring.
Blueback herring distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic menhaden
Brevoortia tyrannus
Learn more about Atlantic menhaden
Atlantic menhaden distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Bay anchovy
Anchoa mitchilli
Bay anchovy distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Offshore hake
Merluccius albidus
Offshore hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Silver hake
Merluccius bilinearis
Learn more about silver hake
Silver hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic cod
Gadus morhua
Learn more about Atlantic cod
Atlantic cod distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Haddock
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Learn more about haddock
Haddock distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Pollock
Pollachius virens
Learn more about pollock
Pollock distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
White hake
Urophycis tenuis
Learn more about white hake
White hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Red hake
Urophycis chuss
Learn more about red hake
Red hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Spotted hake
Urophycis regia
Spotted hake distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Fourbeard rockling
Enchelyopus cimbrius
Fourbeard rockling distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Cusk
Brosme brosme
Cusk distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic halibut
Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Learn more about Atlantic halibut
Atlantic halibut distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
American plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Learn more about American plaice
American plaice distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Summer flounder
Paralichthys dentatus
Learn more about summer flounder
Summer flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Fourspot flounder
Paralichthys oblongus
Fourspot flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Winter flounder
Pseudopleuronectes americanus
Learn more about winter flounder
Winter flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Witch flounder
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
Learn more about witch flounder
Witch flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Windowpane flounder
Scophthalmus aquosus
Learn more about windowpane flounder
Windowpane flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Gulf Stream flounder
Citharichthys arctifrons
Gulf Stream flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Smallmouth flounder
Etropus microstomus
Smallmouth flounder distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Learn more about Atlantic mackerel
Atlantic mackerel distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Chub mackerel
Scomber japonicus
Learn more about chub mackerel
Chub mackerel distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Butterfish
Peprilus triacanthus
Learn more about butterfish
Butterfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Learn more about bluefish
Bluefish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic croaker
Micropogonias undulatus
Atlantic croaker distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Striped bass
Morone saxatilis
Learn more about striped bass
Striped bass distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Black sea bass
Centropristis striata
Learn more about black sea bass
Black sea bass distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Scup
Stenotomus chrysops
Learn more about scup
Scup distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Weakfish
Cynoscion regalis
Weakfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Spot
Leiostomus xanthurus
Spot distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Golden tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Learn more about golden tilefish
Golden tilefish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Acadian redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Learn more about Acadian redfish
Acadian redfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom Row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Blackbelly rosefish
Helicolenus dactylopterus
Blackbelly rosefish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Longhorn sculpin
Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus
Longhorn sculpin distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Sea raven
Hemitripterus americanus
Sea raven distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Alligatorfish
Aspidophoroides monopterygius
Alligatorfish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Northern searobin
Prionotus carolinus
Northern searobin distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Striped searobin
Prionotus evolans
Striped searobin distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Tautog
Tautoga onitis
Tautog distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Daubed shanny
Lumpenus maculatus
Daubed shanny distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Wrymouth
Cryptacanthodes maculatus
Wrymouth distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic wolffish
Anarhichas lupus
Learn more about Atlantic wolffish
Atlantic wolffish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Ocean pout
Macrozoarces americanus
Learn more about ocean pout
Ocean pout distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Northern puffer
Sphoeroides maculatus
Northern puffer distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Monkfish/Goosefish
Lophius americanus
Learn more about monkfish/goosefish
Goosefish distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Rough scad
Trachurus lathami
Rough scad distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Shortnose greeneye
Chlorophthalmus agassizi
Shortnose greeneye distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic soft pout
Melanostigma atlanticum
Atlantic soft pout distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
American lobster
Homarus americanus
Learn more about American lobster
American lobster distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Jonah crab
Cancer borealis
Learn more about Jonah crab
Jonah crab distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Atlantic rock crab
Cancer irroratus
Atlantic rock crab distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Blue crab
Callinectes sapidus
Learn more about blue crab
Blue crab distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Lady crab
Ovalipes ocellatus
Lady crab distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Sea scallop
Placopecten magellanicus
Learn more about sea scallop
Sea scallop distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Northern shortfin squid
Illex illecebrosus
Learn more about northern shortfin squid
Northern shortfin squid distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
Longfin squid
Loligo pealeii
Learn more about longfin squid
Longfin squid distribution. Top row: Spring habitat probability and trends. Bottom row: Fall habitat probability and trends.
More Information
More Information
Northeast Ecosystem Dynamics and Assessment
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
on 03/17/2025
Fish Habitats