Monitoring a New Year-Round Species in Southern New England, Black Sea Bass
general description:
Black sea bass is a species that has gained a lot of attention in Southern New England due to its increasing abundance in the region, likely caused by climate change. Historically, black sea bass were migratory fish in New England. They would migrate northward into the region for summer and fall, and then migrate offshore and south for winter. The newly hatched black sea bass spawned in New England waters would most often not survive their first winter due to the cold inshore water during winter and the far distance to reach the deeper, warmer water offshore. This process would keep the local population of black sea bass in check. However, observations from fishermen suggest that juvenile black sea bass have begun surviving through the winter in coastal waters in New England, which was not possible before the warming in the region. As a result, black sea bass now appear year-round in much higher numbers than before. This increased abundance of black sea bass in New England can impact other marine species significantly and serves as an indication of the extensive impacts that climate change will have on marine environments.
Project objectives:
This project will leverage the Black Sea Bass Research Fleet to conduct a ventless fish pot survey targeting juvenile black sea bass in Rhode Island waters during the winter months. This survey will allow us to scientifically document black sea bass in months and locations that are not covered by existing surveys.
project team:
Hannah Verkamp - Project Lead
Lizzy Soranno
N. David Bethoney
