The objectives of AMMTAP are to collect tissue samples from Alaska marine mammals and to store these samples under the best conditions so that they can be analyzed in the future for environmental contaminants.  The role of specimen banking in research and monitoring enables future investigators to extend their research into the past (hind casting) and provides for future verification of analytical results (quality assurance).

The objectives of STAMP are to collect specimens from representative Alaskan colonial seabirds suitable for determining levels of organic and inorganic contaminants and to transport, catalog, and archive samples in conditions that are suitable for long-term storage and eventual contaminant analyses.