A Legacy of Stewdship: Marina Del Rey Anglers Welcome New Batch of juvenile White Seabass

By Derrek Stewart, Special to The Argonaut

December 4, 2025

Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute’s Victor Bach Munoz, right, and Rex Shettlesworth.  

White Seabass live throughout Southern California’s kelp-lined shorelines and islands.

In the spirit of conservation, the dedicated Marina Del Rey Anglers (MDRA) received a substantial batch of Juvenile White Seabass (WSB), approximately 3,900, on Nov. 4-5 for its ongoing grow-out program. This number is a testament to its commitment to sustaining Southern California’s marine ecosystem.

The MDRA WSB grow-out program is a collaborative effort with a renowned partner, Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute, located in San Diego. 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.

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 12 inches. This significant growth enhances their chances of survival once they’re released into their natural habitat in the Santa Monica Bay. 

When it is time for the release, the experienced staff from Hubbs return 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. 

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.

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. 

To Learn More

To discover more about the MDRA White Seabass Grow-Out program and how to contribute to this conservation endeavor, contact the MDRA Conservation Committee Chair, Keith Moret, at KeMo0325@yahoo.com. To learn more about the White Seabass Head Collection Program and drop-off locations, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/OREHP. Contact info@MDRAnglers.com for more information about MDRA meetings and events.