searun

Searun is a term used in coastal science and fisheries that has no single, universally standardized definition. It is often written as sea run; the two-word form is more common in scientific contexts, though some sources consolidate it as a single word. The term can refer to different but related concepts tied to movement along or from the sea, depending on the disciplinary emphasis.

In coastal geography, a searun denotes a seasonal, nearshore current or band of enhanced flow that runs approximately parallel to the shoreline. It is typically produced by persistent onshore winds together with bathymetric features that funnel the flow. Searuns can influence sediment transport, shoreline morphology, and nearshore ecosystems, and they may complicate navigation and coastal engineering projects by creating variable current conditions.

In fisheries or ichthyology, searun is sometimes used to describe migratory fish that move from the sea into rivers to spawn—a usage overlapping with the more common term sea-run. The term in this context is less standardized, and many authors prefer sea-run to emphasize the lifecycle that includes both marine and freshwater phases.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from sea and run, reflecting movement patterns described in both coastal and migratory contexts. Because usage varies by region and discipline, readers should note potential ambiguity with the established term sea-run.

See also: sea run, coastal current, longshore current, sediment transport, anadromous fish.