United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research and
Development
Washington DC 20460
EPA/620/R-00/005d
May, 2000
Coastal Communications
GULF OF MEXICO AQUATIC
MORTALITY NETWORK (SMNET)
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Introduction
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^The Sulf of Mexico is a large, shallow marine ecosystem that receives runoff from North,
^Central and South America. A great number and diversity of organisms inhabit the coastal
[zone, including those with high economic value (fish, shellfish), high public visibility (marine
; mammals, corals, sea turtles) and important ecological significance (submerged aquatic
vegetation, coastal wetlands). Increasing human activities have raised serious questions
i concerning the continued integrity of the Sulf of Mexico ecosystem. Valued organisms are
exposed to debilitating contaminants and oxygen-depleting nutrients in runoff from these
vast watersheds. Both flora and fauna are exposed to conditions that can alter their disease resistance or
the virulence of disease agents. A variety of shipping and aquaculture activities may also introduce new,
exotic parasites and disease agents. Sulf species do not suffer these stresses one at a time, but rather as
chronic, multiple assaults on their ability to survive. How well they survive then, is a reflection of the
composite stresses they endure and could be used as an indicator of overall ecosystem health. Although the
number of aquatic mortalities we can observe and record may represent only a fraction of the total numbers,
a standardized monitoring approach used over time across the Sulf of Mexico region will provide information
that tells us whether environmental condition is deteriorating or improving.
Gulf of Mexico Aquatic Mortality Network
Five U. S. states share the northern coast of the Sulf, and each has a program to monitor mortalities of
aquatic organisms (fish, shellfish, birds). However, each state has different standards, procedures, and
documentation of mortality events. The Sulf of Mexico Aquatic Mortality Network (SMNET) is a federal-
state collaboration initiated by ORD's National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, that aims to
standardize data collection and documentation to provide an integrated, regional database for aquatic
mortality and disease. Over time, the database will provide needed information to determine whether
environmental conditions for our valued resources are improving or declining. A public site on the worldwide
web, linked to the Sulf of Mexico Program's homepage (http://pelican.gmpo.gov), informs interested citizens
about the purpose of SMNET and provides contacts for reporting events.
Further Information
Contact William Fisher (email f isher.william@epa.gov or tel. 850-934-9394). Visit the SMNET web site
at http://pelican.gmpo.gov/gmnet/.
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