Our Story
The Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) is a cooperative program for the collection, management, and dissemination of fishery-independent data and information in the southeastern United States. We are a federally and state-funded program that provides timely data to inform management decisions for fisheries in coastal areas
Our Operational Components
The program presently consists of three operational components: SEAMAP-Gulf of Mexico, which began in 1981; SEAMAP-South Atlantic, implemented in 1983; and SEAMAP-Caribbean, formed in 1988. Each SEAMAP component operates independently, planning and conducting surveys and information dissemination in accordance with administrative policies and guidelines of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Southeast Regional Office.
Fishery-Independent Survey Programs
SEAMAP-South Atlantic features six fishery-independent survey programs in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. They include the Coastal Trawl Survey (SC), Reef Fish Survey (SC), Pamlico Sound Survey (NC), and three Coastal Longline surveys (NC, SC, and GA). The program also organizes workgroups, such as the Data Management and Crustaceans, to enhance survey quality and data use.
The South Atlantic
This site showcases projects under the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program's (SEAMAP), South Atlantic component. Currently, the South Atlantic is chaired by Dr. Tracey Smart from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources' Marine Resource Research Institute. For projects related to other SEAMAP regions, please visit the Gulf States site or the Caribbean site. For more information, see past annual reports for all three SEAMAP regions.
Joint Annual Meeting
All three regions of SEAMAP meet once a year for the Joint Annual Meeting. The purpose of the Joint Meeting is to present survey results, new methods, and research innovations for other regions to learn from and consider pursuing. Each annual Meeting focuses on an emerging theme in coastal fisheries, for SEAMAP partners to collect data relevant to future fisheries management needs. Annual meeting details can be found on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission calendar.
Please contact our Fisheries Science Coordinator, Jainita Patel for more information!