Monitoring demands many resources. Many organizations may have partial resources, like the equipment, skilled personnel, or the time to dedicate to monitoring activities. By pooling partial resources, a resilient and wide-reaching monitoring effort can be established. This is the foundation of the Estuarine Fish Monitoring Cooperative (EFMC).
The EFMC was conceived in 2021 by Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Program, College of Coastal Georgia, University of Georgia Marine Institute, and University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
The EFMC is a collaborative initiative which aims to fill in localized estuarine fish population data gaps while providing hands-on experiential learning opportunities to develop coastal scientists.
Estuaries are highly dynamic areas, that experience natural changes regularly. Tides flush the system and provide nutrients to keep food webs functional. By doing this, tides create constantly changing conditions of exposure to air or increased levels of water in an estuarine environment. Because of tides, the water levels in an estuary are going up and down several times a day. In almost all estuaries, the salinity of the water changes constantly over the tidal cycle.
While these changes are ones that animals and plants have adapted to over time, new changes like increased water temperatures and rising sea levels that drown marsh grass are now occurring faster than these creatures can keep up with. Unfortunately, this type of change has impacted estuaries across the globe.
Future changes in precipitation and temperature compounded by increased coastal development and changes in land use in the watershed may increase the abundance of harmful nutrients in surface water runoff. This has and will continue to have drastic impacts to the water quality of local estuaries. This is why monitoring water quality and fish populations in our estuary is important to both the ecosystem and human well-being.
EFMC conducts monthly trawls at 33 sites throughout three sounds. At each site, crews manually deploy a twelve-foot trawl net from the stern of the boat. Trawls are conducted using standardized methods to ensure data can be reproduced and compared. Once the net is retrieved, crews empty the net into collection bins and sort their catch.
The total count of each species and their lengths are recorded. Animals are returned to the water as quickly as possible to minimize stress and mortality. Research teams also record environmental data at each site including water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and tidal conditions. Collected data are organized in a central database for use by researchers, resources managers, and students.
Through participation in fieldwork, data analysis, and collaborative research, students gain essential skills in marine science, ecological monitoring, and conservation practices. This program not only enhances their understanding of estuarine dynamics but also prepares them for careers in environmental science, fisheries management, and coastal resource conservation. By working alongside experienced researchers and engaging in hands-on scientific investigations, students develop critical thinking, technical expertise, and a strong foundation in real-world coastal management. UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant have supported multiple internships for undergraduate students with the EFMC.
Looking ahead, the EFMC seeks to expand its geographical reach and the grow participation of dedicated citizen scientists.
We are looking for new collaborators for the EFMC to help us expand our sampling efforts.
We also are looking for volunteers to help with current trawling efforts.
This will further strengthen our collective efforts in preserving these invaluable natural resources.
Learn important fish identification skills, and other topics related to the EFMC at the What's My Bait website.
