gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:29436 eng UTF8 dataset Oracle Database Southeast Fisheries Science Center (305)361-5761 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami FL 33149 USA www.sefsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Website Website for this organization information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST resourceProvider Zapfe, Glenn A 228-549-1650 228-769-9200 3209 Frederic St. Pascagoula MS 39568 glenn.zapfe@noaa.gov pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:18 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) SEAMAP Plankton Surveys publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 29436 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/29436 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information tableDigital 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. To provide abundance and distribution information on early life stages of Gulf of Mexico fish for use in regional and international stock assessments. completed Zapfe, Glenn A 228-549-1650 228-769-9200 3209 Frederic St. Pascagoula MS 39568 glenn.zapfe@noaa.gov custodian asNeeded GOM Gulf of Mexico Mississippi Laboratories Plankton SEAMAP theme DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC > Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Plankton Survey Data project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Southeast Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: SEAMAP Plankton Surveys [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/29436. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: There are not restrictions or legal prerequisites for accessing this data. otherRestrictions Use Constraints: NOAA NMFS does not approve, recommend, or endorse any proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned in this publication. No reference shall be made to NMFS, or to this publication furnished by NMFS, in any advertising or sales promotion which would indicate or imply that NMFS approves, recommends, or endorses any proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned herein or which has as its purpose any intent to cause directly or indirectly the advertised product to be used or purchased because of this NMFS publication. NMFS is not responsible for any uses of these data sets beyond those for which they were intended, and NMFS makes no claims regarding the accuracy of any data provided by agencies or individuals outside NMFS. Acknowledgement of NOAA NMFS and SEAMAP would be appreciated in products derived or publications generated from this data. unclassified NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 29436 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/sefsc/dmp/pdf/29436.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US oceans -98 -52 15 39 1982 dataset Prior to the early 2000s, station data were recorded on datasheets and entered manually into a computer database. Since that time, station data is collected using the Scientific Computing System (SCS) and environmental data is collected using a CTD system in real-time. Plankton samples are collected in fine mesh nets and preserved. These samples are sent to the Polish Sorting Center for sorting and identification of fish larvae and select invertebrates. Identified specimens are returned to the SEAMAP Ichthyoplankton archive in St. Petersburg Florida to be cataloged and entered into the centralized plankton database. Identified invertebrate specimens are returned to the SEAMAP invert archive at Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs Mississippi.