UPDATED: State Aims to Bring Back White Sea Bass

Between 1950 and 1980, the white sea bass fishery was pushed to the brink of destruction by gill nets, overfishing and habitat destruction. Over a span of 30 years, the annual sport catch of white sea bass declined dramatically from 55,000 to 3,500. 

The future of the white sea bass, however, could be improving.

The California Department of Fish and Game has instituted the Ocean Resources Enhancement & Hatchery Program, or OREHP. The funding to support the majority of OREHP‘s stock enhancement research comes from the sale of recreational and commercial fishing licenses. As part of the state‘s new initiative, the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute built an experimental marine fish hatchery in Carlsbad. 

The white sea bass was selected as the primary target species for this program because of its popularity on the dinner table and its depleted status.

DFG permits only 350,000 fish to be released annually. The facility could breed more than that, but the DFG permit doesn't allow for more. To maintain genetic diversity, no more than 15,000 fish are pulled from each generation. Females, which are broadcast breeders, 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 fry come from a number of the participating males.  There is no selective breeding. 

There are 18 grow-out pens operated by private groups, mostly fishing clubs, from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Club volunteers obtain fish food for the fingerlings and handle pen maintenance. The fish are put into the grow-out pens at 4 to 5 inches and grow until they reach 9 to 11 inches in length. At this size, they have at least a 50 percent chance of survival. 

Feb. 11 Update: The white seabass pen in Redondo Beach reportedly lost 6,000 fingerlings this week.

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.

Nevertheless, the data from the tags can only be retrieved if fishermen turn in legally caught white sea bass heads. There are white sea bass drop-off locations up and down the Southern California coast.