Scott Bennett - Insights From Striped Bass Magic Research Program

Scott Bennett is the Program Director for the Marine Biologic Lab's Striped Bass Magic research program and the MBL's Marine Resources Department manager. He grew up in Chicago fishing in freshwater lakes. As a teenager, he started coming to Cape Cod during the summers, where he developed a love for saltwater fishing. He earned a BA in Marine Biology from Roger Williams University in 2005 and a Master's Degree in Comparative Physiology focusing on cranial endothermy in tunas from Cal State Fullerton in 2013. Prior to graduate school, he spent several years at the American Museum of Natural History in the Department of Ichthyology, assisting with research on understanding the evolutionary relationships between various species of fish. Marine Biologic Lab's Striped Bass Magic research program is doing great work to better understand the biology and movements of striped bass. They conduct their ongoing research in Eel Pond which is home to a seasonally resident striped bass population, some of which have returned to this same pond for multiple years in a row. the longitudinal data they have collected has been very beneficial to understanding striped bass biology and movements. If you want to learn more about their research, check out the Striped Bass Magic website The discussion covers a range of topics including the behavior, migration, and habits of striped bass in various environments. Bennett elaborates on the research methodologies used, including PIT and acoustic telemetry tags, and their findings, such as the correlation between striped bass movements and barometric pressure. The conversation also delves into the application of AI in fish identification and a collaborative research project with the Wampanoag tribe at Squibnocket. Jenkins and Bennett reflect on how this extensive research can influence recreational fishing practices and policies. 00:36 Meet Today's Guest: Marine Biologist Scott Bennett 02:37 The Striped Bass Magic Research Program 05:03 Tagging Techniques and Tools 08:04 Behavioral Patterns and Circadian Rhythms 24:26 Individual vs. Group Behavior 29:56 Investigating Striped Bass Migrations 31:06 Experiments with Fingerlings and Iron Deposits 32:48 Adult Fish and Electromagnetic Field Experiments 33:45 Tagging and Tracking Striped Bass 38:48 AI in Fish Identification 45:10 Collaborative Research with Squibnocket Native American Tribe 52:33 Concluding Thoughts and Future Research