Michael Bowen (MA, 2022)

Michael graduated from the M.A. in Marine Conservation and Policy (MCP) Program from Stony Brook University in 2022, and completed his capstone project with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as an Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) field interviewer. He examined Vessel Trip Reporting (VTR) compliance within the For-Hire industry of charter boats and today gets paid to fish for striped bass which has further shown him the importance of conservation and management.  

Today, he works with the Fisheries Department at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County as the Fisheries Coordinator. A typical day for him can include waking up on a commercial fishing vessel in order to perform at-sea research, creating GoPro mounts to attach to trawl nets, or writing grant proposals at the office. The Fisheries Department at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County also focuses on working with local and commercial fishermen to contribute to sustainable seafood production in the United States.