|
NADP
|
|
|
National Aquaculture Development Plan.
|
|
NAICS
|
|
|
North American Industrial Classification System. Replaced SIC (standard industrial code) classification system in 1997. A numerical system for classifying industries and business types; a cooperative effort between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
|
|
native species
|
|
|
A species that occurs naturally in an area (i.e., is not introduced). Compare introduced species and invasive species.
|
|
natural selection
|
|
|
The main mechanism of evolutionary change. In a given population of organisms, there are heritable traits that enable some members to contribute a larger number of offspring than others. If these offspring also have a greater reproductive success, then the genetic composition of the population is altered, thus evolution. See also selection pressure.
|
|
NATURES
|
|
|
Natural Rearing Enhancement System.
|
|
NEFMC
|
|
|
New England Fishery Management Council.
|
|
NEFSC
|
|
|
Northeast Fisheries Science Center. One of six regional research centers of the National Marine Fisheries Service. See also NMFS.
|
|
nekton
|
|
|
Pelagic organisms that are free-swimming and so whose movements are independent of the tides, currents, and waves. Such animals include fish, whales, squid, crabs, and shrimps. The distribution of nekton is limited by temperature and nutrient supply and decreases with decreasing depth. Compare benthic and plankton.
|
|
NMFS
|
|
|
National Marine Fisheries Service (or NOAA Fisheries Service). NMFS, which is a division of NOAA, has its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and has a regional office and a science center in each of six regions. The regional offices provide management and policy leadership. The science centers provide scientific research on which resource management policies are based. The six regional research centers are Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC).
|
|
NOAA
|
|
|
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
|
|
nonrenewable resource
|
|
|
A resource that cannot be replenished by natural processes, at least not within a relatively short period of time. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources. Compare renewable resource.
|
|
NPAFC
|
|
|
North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.
|
|
NPDES
|
|
|
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit.
|
|
NPFMC
|
|
|
North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
|
|
NSGCP
|
|
|
National Sea Grant College Program (NOAA).
|
|
NSSP
|
|
|
National Shellfish Sanitation Program.
|
|
nucleotide
|
|
|
The basic structural component of nucleic acids such as RNA and DNA.
|
|
null hypothesis
|
|
|
The assumption that an observed difference is due to chance rather than some other, hypothesized causal factor.
|
|
NWFSC
|
|
|
Northwest Fisheries Science Center. One of six regional research centers of the National Marine Fisheries Service. See also NMFS.
|
|
NWIFC
|
|
|
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
|
