The Ecological Forecasting Program supports the use of Earth Observations to promote conservation and management of global fisheries.  A current project led by Roffers Ocean Fishing and Forecasting Service is using remotely sensed ocean color data to develop composite images that are very beneficial to guide NOAA field sampling cruises to drop nets at locations most likely to result in catches of tuna and other billfish larvae.  These cruises provide data to validate habitat and stock assessment models, improve understanding of larval ecology, and enable more effective management of U.S. and global fisheries.