Marina Del Rey Anglers Welcome New Batch of Juvenile White Seabass
Continuing a Legacy of Conservation Stewardship
By Derrek Stewart / Special to Western Outdoor News
December 5, 2025
Marina Del Rey - 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 3900, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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, atKeMo0325@Yahoo.com
