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Community Corner

A Look at White Sea Bass Growth in SoCal

The white sea bass stocks continue to rise as local anglers and researchers combine efforts.

Southern California’s white sea bass numbers once were pushed to the brink of destruction by gill nets, over fishing and habitat ruin.

Between 1950 and 1980, the annual sport catch of white sea bass declined dramatically—the catch went from 55,000 to fewer than 3,500.

The California Department of Fish and Game since has instituted the Oceans Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program.

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As part of the state’s new initiative, the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute built an experimental marine fish hatchery in Carlsbad.

"The hatchery provides juvenile white sea bass, four inches in length, to 13 grow-out facilities operated by volunteers throughout Southern California," according to the state Department of Fish and Game’s website. "The fish are held at the grow-out facilities until they are ready for release, typically at around 8 to 10 inches in length."

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The white sea bass species, which is now growing in population, was selected as the primary target for this program due to both its popularity on the dinner table and its depleted status.

The funding to support the majority of the program’s stock enhancement research comes from the sale of recreational and commercial fishing licenses.

The Department of Fish and Game only permits 350,000 fish to be released annually. The facility could breed more than that, but the department permit doesn't allow for more than that to be bred out. 

To maintain genetic diversity, no more than 15,000 fish are pulled from each breeding. Females are broadcast breeders and do two to three egg releases per season. 

Males follow the females when they release the eggs and in turn, release their sperm. Research has shown that the babies, called fry, come from a number of the participating males. There is no selective breeding.

All fish raised and released are tagged in the cheek with coded metal wires. These tags can provide biologists with valuable information such as growth rates, migration routes, predation, mating and more.

The information can only be obtained if anglers turn in legally caught white sea bass heads. There are white sea bass drop-off locations up and down the Southern California coast.

See accompanying list of drop-off locations under video.

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