In 2003, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) developed the Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) intended to monitor estuaries in the Gulf Region and provide an outreach to community environmental groups interested in learning about the status and health of their estuaries.  It was first run as a pilot in 2003, then as a stewardship initiative in 2004. Since that time, SEA has participated in the collection of data in three estuaries in the southeastern region of PEI: Montague-Brudenell, Murray Harbour, and Pinette.  The monitoring aspect developed from this partnership was to test the hypothesis that a relationship exists between the health of an estuary, or coastal shoreline, and the diversity and abundance of finfish and crustacean species which inhabit the littoral, or near shore zone.

CAMP activities are carried out once per month by SEA’s summer staff in June, July, and August with support from the Coalition-SGSL Coordinator.  There is a total of 18 sampling sites in the program – 6 sites in each of the 3 estuaries. Data collected from each site consists of crustaceans, fish species, macrophytes, water quality and benthic substrate.

This program plays a very important role in monitoring estuaries because it provides important information which can help in the prevention of high water temperatures, too much vegetation cover and even poor sediment areas.

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