CFRF Black Sea Bass Research Program
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) Black Sea Bass Research Program is a collaborative, fishery-dependent initiative that fills data gaps in the Southern New England and Mid-Atlantic black sea bass fishery. At its core is a commercial Research Fleet of fishermen who collect detailed biological and catch data during normal fishing operations, providing high-quality, real-time information to improve stock assessments and demonstrate the value of industry-led science.
Extension projects support this effort and expand the program’s scope. The Market Category project evaluates the accuracy of fishermen’s size-based sorting to improve estimates of landings, while the Juvenile Black Sea Bass Survey examines whether juveniles are overwintering in New England waters, signaling potential shifts in habitat use. Together, these projects enhance understanding of the black sea bass population and fishery.
Learn More About Our black sea bass research Projects:
Our black sea bass research program is composed of several different projects. Check out the pages below to learn more about each of these projects.
Determining the Accuracy of Fishermen-Collected Market Category Data for Northern Black Sea Bass
Monitoring a New Year-Round Species in Southern New England, Black Sea Bass
