Coastal Resources Division (CRD) personnel conduct a fishery-independent seine survey in the littoral zone along the beaches of two barrier islands: St. Simons and Jekyll. This survey, initiated in 2004, is designed to monitor and assess finfish and crustacean populations occurring in the littoral zone, an area not surveyed by trawl gear. On a monthly basis between March and November, CRD personnel use a 100’ beach seine to assess marine organisms in two of Georgia’s estuaries: St. Simons and St. Andrew. Within each sound, two sites are sampled, for a total of four stations. At each site, two 10-minute tows are performed; one with the tide and one against the tide. Catches are identified to the species level and information on total weights, lengths of up to 30 individuals per species, and total numbers of individuals per species are recorded. Additionally, water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen are measured at each station. Tide stage, tow direction (with/against tide), GPS coordinates, and tow duration are also recorded at each site.  

Data from this survey is used to compare and contrast species composition and species abundance to that observed in nearby trawl data collection efforts, as well as to provide fishery managers with additional data by which to better manage and regulate marine populations.