Marina Del Rey Anglers Welcome New Batch of Juvenile White Seabass
Continuing a Legacy of Conservation Stewardship
White
Seabass live throughout Southern California’s kelp-lined shorelines and
islands.
By Derrek Stewart 11/5/25
Another White Seabass Grow-Out Program Milestone
A
juvenile White Seabass, approximately 5 inches in length, is ready to go from
the delivery tank into the grow-out pen.
In our unwavering spirit of conservation, the
dedicated Marina Del Rey Anglers (MDRA) have once again demonstrated our
dedication to marine conservation. The organization received a substantial batch of Juvenile White Seabass (WSB),
approximately 3,900, on November 4th and 5th for their ongoing grow-out program. This significant
number is a testament to our commitment to sustaining Southern California’s
marine ecosystem.
The MDRA WSB grow-out program is not just a local effort,
but a collaborative one with a renowned partner, Hubbs Seaworld Research
Institute, located in San Diego, California. Victor Bach Munoz, Hubbs’ Grow
Facility Coordinator, and assistant Rex Shettlesworth, play a crucial role in
this partnership, delivering the young WSB from the institute in
specialty-trailered water tanks to the MDRA grow-out pens located adjacent to
Burton Chace Park in Marina Del Rey Harbor.
Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute’s Victor Bach Munoz, right, and Rex Shettlesworth.
White Seabass Conservation Efforts
Under the leadership of Keith Moret, the MDRA Conservation
Chair, a dedicated group of volunteers, known as Pen Pals, work tirelessly to
support the preservation of WSB in the Santa Monica Bay region. Their work,
which includes receiving the fish, maintaining the rearing pens, safeguarding
the WSB from predators, providing consistent feeding, recording crucial data,
and releasing the fish into the ocean, is crucial to the ongoing success of
this conservation initiative.
The process involves nurturing the WSB for approximately
five to six months, during which the fish receive meticulous care and
attention, growing to a size of eight to twelve inches. This significant growth
enhances their chances of survival once they're released into their natural habitat in
the Santa Monica Bay. This period of careful management and protection is a
testament to a commitment to the long-term sustainability of Southern
California's WSB population.
MDRA
officers, Penn Pals, and friends gather to receive the Hubbs White Seabass
delivery.
When it is time for the release, the experienced staff from Hubbs returns to work in close collaboration with the MDRA team, including the
Betty-O release vessel, captained by owners Mike and Patty Reinsch. Hubbs personnel coordinate, supervise, and assist with the final steps of releasing
the WSB into the wild, ensuring a safe and efficient process. The partnership
between MDRA volunteers, the Betty-O crew, and Hubbs staff exemplifies the
power of community involvement and professional guidance in achieving
conservation goals.
A Vast Network
From San Diego to Santa Barbara, including Santa Catalina
Island, there are thirteen Southern California coastal WSB grow-out facilities.
These grow-out bases are part of the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife’s Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP), ensuring a
prolific WSB conservation effort throughout the region’s coast. The Marina Del
Rey Anglers Fishing Club, with its core value of conservation, plays a
significant role in these efforts and is grateful for the support of each
agency involved, including the generous backing of the Los Angeles County
Department of Beaches and Harbors.
LA County
Beaches and Harbors, Burton Chace Park Code Enforcement Officer Esmeralda
Tinoco, and LAB&H-BCP Supervisor Marcel Mitchell with Hubbs’ Victor Bach
Munoz.
Beyond the Release, Angler Participation
At the Hubbs Institute, each WSB has a Coded Wire Tag
implanted into its jaw. Each tag has a serial number that identifies the
specific WSB group, its feeding program, the grow-out facility to which a
particular group is delivered, and the method of release into its natural
environment. Anglers who catch and
harvest a legal-sized White Seabass, 28 inches minimum, are encouraged to save
the head for Hubbs and report the catch location. There are convenient WSB head
drop-off freezer facilities located throughout Southern California marinas.
These angler actions directly contribute to the research
data. Researchers perform genetic testing and scan for implanted tags. The tags
provide research information indicating the grow-out site, migration, and the
age of the fish. Data from the collected heads is crucial for the program to
assess its overall success and make improvements to release strategies.
The records indicate that the MDRA grow-out program has an
extremely high rate of returned tags. It’s not scientifically fully understood
why the Marina Del Rey Anglers WSB Program produces its stellar results.
However, spend some time with this group of devoted conservationists and
experience our passion for thriving aquaculture, our stewardship of
California’s marine ecosystem, the source of our beloved American pastime:
recreational angling, and you’ll begin to understand why.
The
protected Marina Del Rey Anglers White Seabass grow-out pens, Marina Del Rey
Harbor.
Captain
Mike Reinsch, right, with MDRA Conservation Chair, Keith Moret, aboard the
Betty-O for March’s 2025 WSB release.
To Learn More
To discover more about the MDRA White Seabass Grow-Out
program and how you can contribute to this prolific conservation endeavor, contact the MDRA Conservation Committee Chair, Keith Moret, at KeMo0325@Yahoo.com
The Marina Del Rey Anglers, Southern California’s Premier
Saltwater Fishing Club, meets at the Del Rey Yacht Club, 13900 Palawan Way,
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292. For meeting
dates, times, and details, please contact info@MDRAnglers.com. The public and prospective members are always welcome.
Photos by Derrek Stewart, MDRA VP, Media, Marketing, and Public
Relations Committee Chair, contact at Derrek@MDRAnglers.com
White Seabass Illustration by Studio Abachar, to view and
purchase this and other stunning fish and marine life art, visit - https://www.abachar.com/
