About This Project

The striped bass fishery is a vital component of New England's coastal economy. Unfortunately, anglers and scientists agree that striped bass populations are declining. We must understand the ecological causes and consequences of this decline in order to develop sustainable management strategies. This study will assess how striped bass interact with important prey species, like lobster, in order to inform policy.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

• Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) are large, marine predators that migrate from the southern United States up through New England. During their migration they consume a variety of bait-fish and crustaceans. Past research has provided valuable insight into striped bass prey consumption. However, we need estimates of prey abundance within different habitats (eg. sandy beaches, cobble/rock, eel-grass beds) to quantify the impact of striped bass on prey communities.
• In the south, striped bass typically feed on fish prey, but many individuals feed predominantly on crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) when they migrate through New England. We want to know what this means for striped bass and for the prey communities which they feed on.

What is the significance of this project?

Fisheries management has historically implemented strategies without accounting for the complex interactions between species. More recently, scientists have pushed for ecosystem-based management, where policies consider many ecological variables. This study uses this concept to ask vital questions related to striped bass and will provide valuable insight on the interactions between striped bass and their most important prey items, specifically the American lobster.

What are the goals of the project?

1. What are the health consequences of striped bass diet? By collecting fish from Massachusetts, we will determine the condition and health effects of a crustacean-based diet on large striped bass.
2. Do striped bass heavily impact local prey populations of lobsters and other crustaceans? SCUBA dive surveys will estimate prey population sizes. Coupled with a mathematical modeling approach, we will be able to determine how many lobsters/crabs are being consumed.
3. What habitats are most important to striped bass during their migration? Acoustic tags will be surgically implanted into fish in order to determine how striped bass use local habitats. This will give us insight into where striped bass may have the most impact, and conversely, which habitats are most important. (See 'Lab Notes')