Woods Hole scientists to train fish to associate sound and food

Tor-Eddie Fossbakk Scientists plan to put thousands of black sea bass in a dome-shaped structure at the bottom of Buzzards Bay. They are planning to play specific sounds in the dome and then feed the fish pellets. Later the fish will be released into the wild, but the researchers hope they will return to the dome for food and eventually recapture. The process is called "acoustic ranching," and can be compared to Ivan Pavlov's dogs, except underwater and with fish. The study is part of a USD 270,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The dome project is awaiting approval of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The structure that will house the fish, the Aquadome, will be installed on the sea floor at a sub-tidal water depth of 35 feet. The dome is half of a geodesic sphere — 32 feet in diameter and 16 feet tall — with a containment barrier made of PVC-coated, galvanized steel wire mesh. It will be held in place by nearly half a dozen 1,200-pound anchors. A 4-inch feed hose will run from the top of the dome to a lighted buoy on the surface.