CERF was created in 1971, when the members of two older, regionally-based estuarine research societies (AERS and NEERS) decided that a national organization was needed to address estuarine and coastal issues more broadly. The regionally based Affiliate Societies now number seven and encompass all of the coastal regions that border the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS)

The Atlantic Estuarine Research Society brings together students, scientists, managers, and educators from the states of DE, MD, NC, NJ, PA, VA and Washington, DC to discuss estuarine and coastal environmental issues and policies. It is our intent to a foster broader interest in our environment by increasing public awareness of current issues.

California Estuarine Research Society (CAERS)

The California Estuarine Research Society is open to all, but particularly scientists and students working on estuarine and coastal environments in California and Mexico.  The society aims to improve education and research regarding California's estuarine and coastal environments by providing a forum to enhance communication among interested scientists, engineers, and students.

Gulf Estuarine Research Society (GERS)

The Gulf Estuarine Research Society is a not for profit educational organization for people interested in estuarine and coastal issues centering on the Gulf of Mexico  GERS is a very active research society with a membership of scientists, researchers, and students from universities, agencies and research labs along the Gulf coast.

Atlantic Canada Coastal Estuarine Science Society (ACCESS)

The Atlantic Canada Coastal Estuarine Science Society has the distinction of being one of the newest affiliate societies as well as the first affiliate that is not principally based in the United States.  The majority of the society's members live and work in eastern Canada, where they study the more than 300 estuaries in the St. Lawrence River area.

New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS)

NEERS is a non-profit organization with a wide ranging membership from scientific institutions, federal agencies, state agencies, municipal agencies, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. The purpose of the society is to bring together persons actively engaged in estuarine and coastal research and management for informal discussion and exchange of ideas.

Pacific Estuarine Research Society (PERS)

The Pacific Estuarine Research Society is a non-profit organization formed to bring together, for educational purposes, persons interested in estuarine and coastal issues of the North Pacific. Serving scientists in the U.S., Canada, and Japan, PERS conducts annual meetings where estuarine and coastal researchers, managers, policy makers, students and others share their work and ideas.

Southeastern Estuarine Research Society (SEERS)

The Southeastern Estuarine Research Society is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the informal exchange of interdisciplinary information related to estuaries of the southeastern United States. SEERS promotes discussion of estuarine research, science, and management; promotes discussion of current research projects and management issues; and encourages participation of student colleagues. SEERS membership is largely, but not exclusively, from the states of NC, SC, GA and FL. SEERS typically meets twice per year, including the biannual Estuarine Research Federation Conference. SEERS is an affiliate society of the Estuarine Research Federation.