2026 Biodiversity in the Connecticut River Watershed Lecture Series: Blackfish: From Reef to Table, by Dr. Mark Dixon

The tautog, or blackfish, is a defining inhabitant of the rocky reefs of Long Island Sound. Coveted by anglers and scrutinized by scientists, this formidable fish anchors coastal food webs and signals ecosystem health. This lecture follows the blackfish’s dramatic life history, from reef stronghold to dinner plate, revealing its ecological power, cultural legacy, and the fragile balance of the waters it rules today and beyond.

Mark is recently retired from the NOAA Fisheries lab in Milford CT. Mark spent time studying and thinking about tautog during graduate school at the University of Connecticut before embarking on a career studying shellfish aquaculture in Milford. Tautog eventually reemerged as an interest to understand the role of oyster farming gear as fish habitat. Mark is an avid SCUBA diver and was a NOAA Science Diver for over 30 years. This provided countless opportunities to observe blackfish in their natural settings.