NOAA Fisheries Partners with Smithsonian to Archive Marine Specimens for Genetic Research

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center recently archived more than 700 fish and squid specimens at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History . Science Center researchers collected the specimens during research surveys. This collaborative effort will support genetic research efforts for generations and help scientists better understand and sustainably manage marine species in the Pacific.

Collaboration

In June 2025, Dr. Matt Girard , a zoologist and visiting scientist from the Smithsonian, collaborated with NOAA's Dr. Jonathan Whitney and research scientists from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in Honolulu. The center houses a vast collection of marine specimens, including fish and cephalopods, collected over decades through research surveys and NOAA's Observer Program . To support long-term preservation and enhance genetic reference libraries, the Smithsonian offered to take custody of select specimens from the collection.

Specimens Taken to the Smithsonian

The collection included:

NOAA Fisheries staff, interns, and volunteers carefully processed, preserved, and packaged the specimens. They then shipped them to the Smithsonian. Many have already been cataloged into the National Collections and will serve as the genetic standard for their species in our region.

Advancing Genetic Reference Libraries

Along with preserving the physical specimens, Smithsonian scientists will sequence more than 600 tissue samples and make them publicly available to create genetic reference data. This work is part of a larger effort by NOAA Fisheries, the Smithsonian, and NOAA's National Systematics Lab to build a comprehensive DNA reference library for species found in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone .

These genetic libraries are crucial for modern research tools like environmental DNA and metabarcoding. These techniques detect species by analyzing tiny DNA fragments that animals leave behind. There have been significant increases in the incorporation of eDNA tools into marine surveys in the last decade as the potential of this data source is realized. eDNA can detect the presence of species even when the individuals are not "seen" (i.e., visually sighted, caught, or heard). This can increase the accuracy of fish and protected species distribution maps, and shed light on hidden parts of marine ecosystems.

eDNA can also be used to estimate a species' abundance , an important input to stock assessments . Metabarcoding techniques can be used to identify prey items in a predator's stomach , which inform food web studies that are an essential part of ecosystem models. Accurate species identification from an eDNA or stomach sample requires well-developed specimen-based genetic databases to compare new genetic information against.

By expanding these DNA reference libraries, we are laying the foundation for improved marine biodiversity monitoring and sustainable fisheries management.

Filling in Data Gaps

The collection significantly improves genetic data coverage for fish and cephalopods (squid and related species). Until now, only one-third of fish and 1 percent of cephalopod species recorded in the Hawai'i region had a genetic reference sequence linked to a specimen in a museum collection.

By adding 267 squid specimens from lancetfish stomachs and another 408 fish and squid specimens from the 2024 cruise, scientists are filling major gaps. These samples will be sequenced and provide gold-standard genetic references for most North Pacific fish and cephalopods. These libraries provide the information needed to identify fragments of DNA to species.

A Team Effort with Lasting Impact

This project involved many Science Center team members and volunteers. One volunteer was Bruce Mundy, a retired former NOAA Fisheries employee who dedicated hundreds of hours to organizing the wet archive. He coordinated with museum partners and prepared historic specimens for 33 years in Honolulu. Early-career interns also gained valuable hands-on experience identifying specimens and supporting the archiving process.

Looking ahead, we hope to involve Smithsonian scientists directly in future fisheries oceanography research surveys. Collecting fresh specimens aboard research vessels will help deepen understanding of the Pacific's forage fish and squid communities. These are key components of regional marine ecosystems and sustainable fisheries management efforts.