NOAA Fisheries Partners with Smithsonian to Archive Marine Specimens for Genetic Research
September 18, 2025 | 2 min to read
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to archive over 700 fish and squid specimens, enhancing genetic reference libraries for eDNA research. Collected during research surveys, these specimens will aid in understanding and managing Pacific marine species sustainably. In June 2025, Dr. Matt Girard collaborated with NOAA’s Dr. Jonathan Whitney to facilitate this long-term preservation, ensuring valuable resources for future genetic research efforts.
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to preserve fish and squid specimens that will expand the genetic reference libraries needed for ongoing and future eDNA 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.
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