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Grow out pens across Southern California help save a once endangered species.


By Parimal M. Rohit


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — The 1980s were pivotal for white sea bass. A report published by the California Ocean Protection Council stated the white sea bass population was deplet- ed to 10 percent of its historic catch. White sea bass were becoming endan- gered. The outlook was bleak. A light began to appear at the end of the tunnel in 1986, when more than 2,000 juvenile white sea bass were released into San Diego’s Mission Bay as part of an experimental program to replenish the species’ population. Since then about one dozen organiza- tions from San Diego to Santa Barbara have operated volunteer-based grow out pens to increase the stock of white sea bass.


A stock assessment is still in the


works to determine how much progress has been made, but, by all indications, efforts to replenish white sea bass between Mexico and Alaska appear to be successful.


A Group Effort


Replenishing the white sea bass population has been a collaborative effort between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), Hubbs Sea World Research Institute in San Diego, and Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP) in Carlsbad. Bob Hetzler, an active member of Anglers of Huntington Harbour who served as president, treasurer and operating manager of HOPE (Harbour Ocean Preservation Enhancement) said DFW is responsible for managing local fish stocks. OREHP is an experimental hatchery


program in Carlsbad funded by DFW. The program launched in 1982 and, since finding a base in northern San Diego County in the mid-1990s, pro- vides juvenile white sea bass 13 grow


March ended on a high note for the anglers aboard Pacific Queen Sportfishing. Capt. Drew Card reported the anglers aboard a 1.5-day fishing trip aboard Pacific Queen returned to port on April 1 with 52 bluefin tuna reeled in – no fooling! Reports of bluefin tuna came in from mul- tiple corners during the first weekend of April, giving local anglers hope the 2016 fishing season will be as good as or better than last year.


Southern California fishing news Saving White Sea Bass: A fish species replenished


County. All tagged white sea bass from this venue would supply the hatchery at Hubbs Sea World. “Since its inception this facility has


raised and released more than 75,000 young white sea bass that are usually around 8 to 12 inches in length when released,” said Jock Albright, president of Balboa Angling Club and founder of Newport White Seabass Program. “All of the released seabass carry a very small wire tag inserted into their cheek at the hatchery before delivery to the grow out facility which provides valu- able scientific information when that tag is recovered years later. “Many of these tags have been


Several Southern California organizations have established volunteer white sea bass grow out pens to help the recovery of the species.


out venues across Southern California. Tom Ratifican, who served on the


OREHP Advisory Committee for about 10 years, said white sea bass are in recovery and state officials are taking active steps to monitor the fishery’s status. “White sea bass have been in recov-


ery mode. Thanks to California’s Marine Life Management Act, the DFW has implemented a White Seabass Fishery Management Plan that now documents the status of the fishery,” said Ratifican of The Sportfishing Conservancy. “Some 14 California fish- ing clubs have worked in concert with Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute to release more than a million juvenile fish. Normally these fish are taken to the pens at about 3 inches and released after growing to 7-9 inches.” Ratifican added, however, a deter- mination is still being made as to what factors contributed to the recovery of the white sea bass population. “In light of the number of variables it is difficult to assess this program in terms of it being a primary contributor to the recovery. I believe the Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking at that right now,” Ratifican said.


Proposition 132 Replenishing the white sea bass was


made easier by the passage of Proposition 132, which established marine protection zones off the California coast. Use of gillnets within the zones, which were within 3 miles of the coast, were prohibited. The proposition, which was approved by the California electorate in 1990, also required the state’s Fish and Game Commission to pro- mote marine research through the creation of ocean water ecological reserves. “Proposition 132 and the accompanying gillnet ban have made a tremendous, positive impact on the pop- ulation recovery. Removing nearshore gillnets was huge,” Ratifican said.


A Volunteer Based Program


Balboa Angling Club Hubbs Sea World


Research Institute reached out to Balboa Angling Club in 1992 to determine whether the fishing group could establish a volunteer- based grow out venue for white sea bass, the first of its type built in Orange


recovered from all over the Southern California Coast and as far out as 80 miles offshore,” Albright continued. Albright added the white sea bass


program could potentially be replicat- ed to protect other fish species.


“To my knowledge this volunteer See SEA BASS page 30


The Log • April 8 - 21, 2016 • 29


White Sea Bass 350,000 Carlsbad can produce 8 to 10


Length, in inches, of released fish


Oldest age class (in years) for white sea bass


27 13


# of juvenile white sea bass the Marine Fish Hatchery in


# of juvenile white sea bass released into King Harbor on March 16


2,772 1,800+


hatchery-reared white sea bass recovered


Approximate amount of


# of grow out pens in Southern California


Hobie photo


Pacific Queen Sportfishing photo


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