SEAMAP Plankton Surveys

The Southeast Fisheries Science Center Mississippi Laboratories conducts standardized fisheries independent resource surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and U.S. Caribbean to provide abundance and distribution information to support regional and international stock assessments. The spring plankton survey (April-May) targets bluefin tuna and covers the entire Gulf of Mexico using a neuston and bongo net. The fall plankton survey (September) is conducted on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf and assesses the occurrence, abundance and geographical distribution of the early life stages of fall spawning fishes, especially king and Spanish mackerel, red drum, and snappers. The winter plankton survey (February-March) assesses the occurrence, abundance and geographical distribution of the early life stages of winter spawning fishes, particularly grouper species and tilefish. The survey is conducted on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf, the shelf edge, and deep waters. Plankton samples are also collected on other SEAMAP surveys including Summer and Fall Groundfish. All surveys conduct 24-hour sampling using neuston and bongo nets with approximately 200 stations per survey. The neuston net has a 1- by 2-m opening outfitted with a 0.947 mm mesh net, and is towed for 10 minutes through the surface waters for eggs and larvae. A 61-cm bongo net frame, with 0.335 mm mesh nets, is used at each station and tow times are no more than 25 minutes.

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  "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/sefsc/dmp/pdf/29436.pdf"
]