From the headwaters of California’s rivers to the streams and estuaries up and down the west coast and out into the Pacific Ocean, the Fisheries Collaborative Program’s research is coursing a path toward a more sustainable future for marine and freshwater fish species and their habitats. Explore what we do.
Coastal Salmonid Ecology
![Big Creek](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/Big-Creek_Main-Hero-©-Lobsang-Wangdu-720x248.jpg)
Investigating and supporting the persistence of small steelhead trout populations in dynamic environments (Big Sur, California).
![Carmel River Restoration team electrofishing](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/Carmel-River-Restoration_Main-Hero-720x248.jpg)
Studying the ecology of steelhead trout in the Carmel River to support the conservation and management of this ESA-listed species.
![Salmon fry under study at Scott Creek](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/04/Scott-Creek_Main-Hero-©Adam-Welz-720x248.jpg)
Leading the conservation and recovery of coho salmon and steelhead trout throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains and coast.
Central Valley Anadromous Fish Ecology
![Central Valley team on a NOAA research boat in the Delta](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/Hero-Nick_Demetras_Meagan_Gary_Reid_Nelson_predation_work_by_Brendan_Lehman-720x248.jpg)
Supporting the conservation and management of California Chinook salmon through tracking and modeling.
![River in the Central Valley](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/06/Central-Valley_Partners-Hero-720x248.jpg)
Developing detection and modeling techniques to monitor threatened green sturgeon populations in California’s Central Valley.
Marine Fish Ecology and Stock Assessment
![San Diego sunset at sea](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/06/Hero-CTD_SanDiegoSunsetRMiller-720x248.jpg)
Leading innovative survey efforts to assess the population dynamics of coastal pelagic fish species.
![Big Creek Beach](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/Hero-Jeremy-Notch.-Big-Creek-beach-720x248.jpg)
Investigating life histories, trophic dynamics, and management strategies for coastal pelagic and highly migratory fish species.
![Juvenile Chinook Salmon](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2024/02/Juvenile-Chinook-Salmon-Credit-Arnold-Ammann-Rockfish-Recruitment-and-Ecosystem-Assessment-Survey-NOAA-Tech-Memo-NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-515-1-43db2db2978dc445-720x248.jpg)
Investigating juvenile salmon distribution and survival through the integration of survey data into an ecosystem modeling framework.
![Bodega Bay harbor at sunset](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/Climate-and-Ecosystems_Main-Hero-720x248.jpg)
Using state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms to inform ecosystems-based fisheries management.
![Rockfish in coral at the sea floor](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/06/Hero-20181020_085117_Crop_NOAAFEDEXPRESS_CRUISE-720x248.jpg)
Investigating the life history, reproductive ecology, and habitat associations of groundfish populations throughout the California Current.
Environmental Variability and Climate Change
![Top view of a humpback whale in Monterey Bay](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/Hero1-ERD-Whale-Elliot-Hazen-720x248.jpg)
Linking physical processes and marine populations to inform ecosystem-based fisheries management.
![Polar ice](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/Credit_NOAA_For_use_as_general_PolarWatch_photo-720x248.jpg)
Improving the understanding and management of the ocean's resources by facilitating the use of the environmental data provided by satellite ocean sensors.
![](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2023/09/Delta_landscape_by_Brendan_Lehman-720x248.jpg)
Developing innovative water planning tools to advance sustainable, inclusive, and equitable water distribution for California.
![Scuba Diver](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2023/12/G0064582-720x248.jpg)
We study how species adapt to rapidly changing environments to inform global stewardship and train the next generation of scientific leaders.
Fish Ecology and Evolution
![Juvenile salmon from Scott Creek](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/EED_Research-Header-©Adam-Welz-720x248.jpg)
Working at the interface of ecology and evolution to understand aquatic organisms and ecosystems.
![creek](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2023/12/1E8FA630-D31F-4A50-B497-4BBFE966BF1D_1_105_c-720x248.jpeg)
Our work focuses on understanding how different Poecillid fish species repeatedly adapt to live in toxic, sulfide-rich, streams.
![Group of Chinook salmon fry](https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/files/2021/05/Hero-StaffordD_chinooksalmon-1-720x248.jpg)
Supporting salmonid management and recovery efforts through integrated genetic monitoring and evaluation.