Bottom Longline Survey

SEAMAP currently employs an Inshore Bottom Longline Survey to monitor coastal shark and adult finfish populations in the near shore waters of the north central Gulf of Mexico. This nearshore survey complements the NMFS bottom longline survey using the same gear and methodology except that it takes place in the shallow waters of the north central Gulf of Mexico.

Several enhancements could be incorporated into current bottom longline surveys that would expand the scope of bottom longline sampling and provide important data needed for better understanding the dynamics of upper level predators and other key managed species (snappers and groupers). Expansion of the summer bottom longline survey activities would improve precision associated with indices of abundance used for stock assessment. The additional activities would also result in an increased ability to examine spatial patterns in intraspecific differences in the life history, diets, abundance and movements of predatory fishes in the Gulf of Mexico.

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