At GSO, long-term research is key to understanding how our ocean and coasts are changing. Our Fish Trawl Survey provides decades of insight into shifts in marine life, tracking fish populations and species changes over time. The Plankton Time Series, one of the world’s longest-running surveys, collects critical environmental data from Narragansett Bay, helping scientists monitor nutrient cycling, water quality, and physical conditions. Onshore, the Beach Survey Program monitors Rhode Island’s sandy shorelines, revealing patterns of erosion, sediment movement, and coastal change over time.
By collecting and analyzing data year after year, these projects help us see long-term trends, supporting smarter conservation and management decisions. Science takes time—and we’re in it for the long haul.
