🛳️ The Story of NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker

Commissioned in 2014, NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker (R 228) is one of the most advanced fisheries survey vessels in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) fleet. Homeported in San Diego, California.

Named after Dr. Reuben Lasker, a pioneering marine biologist and fisheries scientist known for his groundbreaking work on fish larval ecology, the vessel carries forward his legacy by collecting critical data on West Coast marine ecosystems.

Built with quiet-hull technology, Reuben Lasker minimizes underwater noise, allowing it to conduct sensitive acoustic surveys without disturbing the very marine life it’s designed to study. Its equipment includes:

  • High-resolution echosounders and trawl nets to monitor fish populations

  • Oceanographic sensors for climate and habitat studies

  • Wet and dry labs onboard for immediate processing of biological samples

The ship primarily surveys species like sardines, anchovies, hake, and rockfish—key to both ecosystem health and the commercial fisheries economy. It also supports studies on marine mammals, seabirds, and plankton, contributing to long-term monitoring and sustainable management of the California Current ecosystem.

Whether it's tracking fish stocks, assessing climate-driven changes in the ocean, or supporting marine conservation, NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker is a critical platform for science in action—bridging data with decision-making to protect our ocean for generations to come.