The EFS Division conducts research to assess and reduce natural and human-caused impacts on environmental and human health, and to improve methods for fisheries restoration and production in conservation hatcheries and in aquaculture.

• Environmental health and conservation research examines environmental conditions and the impacts of chemical contaminants, marine biotoxins, and pathogens on fishery resources, protected species, habitat quality, seafood safety, and human health.
• Fisheries restoration and aquaculture includes research on the challenges associated with captive rearing, nutrition, reproduction, behavior, disease control, engineering, hatchery technology and larval/juvenile quality for protected, depleted and commercially valuable species.

EFS also maintains a readiness to respond quickly to environmental emergencies from the release of toxic materials into the environment.