Welcome to the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, where our world-class faculty educate future leaders in fisheries and marine science. Our research addresses pressing issues in aquatic ecosystems from the Arctic to Antarctica. We invite you to explore our website and welcome any questions you may have.
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At the UAF College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, we challenge our students to explore academically, geographically and culturally. Our community of scholars provides opportunities for students to learn and conduct research in some of the most beautiful and pristine locations in the world.
A simple addition to fishing nets has delivered promising early results for keeping
killer whales out of deep-water flatfish trawls.
An ambitious new project is tracking king salmon during their difficult journey from freshwater habitat to the ocean.
CFOS researcher Matthew Wooller has studied the remains of over 300 mammoths, but two recent samples came with a unique twist.
Ancient 'cheetah' adapted to a fish-based diet to survive
September 04, 2026
When the now-extinct American cheetah was enduring the last ice age, a glaciated barrier broke up its territory into two distinct territories -- one in central North America and another much farther north. Analysis from the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Stable Isotope Facility helped an international research team uncover how the ancient carnivore survived in those distinct regions. American cheetahs in the southern range hunted terrestrial prey like pronghorn antelope. Their counterparts in the Arctic adapted to their environment by making fish a staple of their diets.
Shapes of Western ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ bays influence local flood danger
August 20, 2026
When large storms hit Western ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥, some areas fare much worse than others. New research studying ex-Typhoon Merbok in September 2022 has found that a complex recipe of topography, tidal influences and seasonal water-level changes contribute to those differences. A ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥-led team determined that the shape of bays and estuaries in the region played a huge role in funneling and amplifying Merbok-driven storm surges.
Belugas absent from Kenai River during peak fishing season
July 30, 2026
Endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, which have traditionally fed in the salmon-rich Kenai River throughout the summer, were absent during times of high human activity in a recent two-year period.