Plankton Survey Data

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. All surveys conduct 24-hour sampling using neuston and bongo nets with approximately 200 stations per survey. The neuston net has a 3- by 5-ft opening with very small mesh (i.e., .947 mm), 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 net, may be used at each station and tow times are no more than 20 minutes. All samples are preserved in formalin and then transferred to alcohol and shipped to the Polish Sorting Center to be sorted and identified.

To provide abundance and distribution information on early life stages of Gulf of Mexico fish for use in regional and international stock assessments.

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At the end of each survey data are reviewed for accuracy/relevance by chief scientists. Specimens that are sorted and identified at the Polish Sorting Center. Identifications are checked for several species by SEFSC scientists upon return from the Polish Sorting Center.