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Official name: Marina del Rey Anglers Ocean Resources Enhancement Program

Marina del Rey Anglers is working with Hubbs/Sea World Research Institute, United Anglers, and the State of California Fish and Game Department to help replenish local fisheries. MDRA has two fish grow-out pens in the water at the guest docks adjacent to Burton Chace Park.

WHITE SEA BASS HEAD COLLECTION PROGRAM

Where Do you turn in the WSB the head?

Win for turning in a WSB Head
Current Press Release... Click Here!

The White Seabass grow out pans have released over 1 million fish up and down the coast.  Our two MDR pens have the lowest mortality rate of all the grow out pens. You can volunteer to be a Pen Pal and help raise baby fish too.  Contact Darrell if interested.  Our latest release was 2,850 fish and brings our total to date to 78,400+ juvenile white seabass released.

Juvenile White Seabass - No Take These must grow to adulthood! Wow is this fun! =>

The Marina del Rey facility has released over 78,400 fish since the inception of the program in September of 1995.

We have had great years and off years.  But WSB fishing can be grand.

HALIBUT DERBY PROVIDES NEW BROODSTOCK

Someday we hope to be raising California Halibut in one of the fish pens.

The Movers and shakers make things happen...
A full crew of nine "Pen Pals" maintains the pen. Any others, MDRA club members or not, who are interested in getting involved in the program are cordially invited to do so.  If you want to participate or just to have a conducted tour of the pen, phone Darrell Pickford.

The beginning of the MDRA fish husbandry program was when Bob Godfrey got us started and built our first pen.  We shortly upgraded to two pens.  Bob decided to go with a system that did not use nets.  It uses raceways like a plastic swimming pool with one end open to the sea.  That end has a large removable grate.  Our pens have heavily reinforced openings to prevent the big predators like seals from getting at the fry.  The photos above is of a fish release day where we count every single fish before release.  Science needs accurate facts!  Bob is flanked by Hubbs scientist kneeling and Ken Raymond with the thumb counter.  Ken is recording the count from the net on each pass of the net with 3-7 fish typically.  It is a slow process.  Eventually you get to the last one somewhere around 3 thousand!

Paul Simon was honored in a big way by United Anglers of Southern California for his many years and tirelessly following up to make this aquaculture program a success.  United Anglers gave Paul a Lifetime Achievement Award. They even named a perpetual trophy after Paul Simon.  It will be issued to the top volunteer for each year.  We have some photos from UASC Dinners.  It is great that Paul, our volunteer extraordinaire got this honor.  He has volunteered (with his wife Laverne) for years in the ongoing efforts to put on the MDR Halibut Derby and youth fishing and with fish conservation.  We say Think You to Paul and Laverne for your many years of service to your community and all of our fish. 

The White Seabass grow out pans have released over 1 million fish up and down the coast.  Our two MDR pens have the lowest mortality rate of all the grow out pens. You can volunteer to be a Pen Pal and help raise baby fish too.  Contact Darrell if interested.  Our latest release was 2,850 fish and brings our total to date to 78,400+ juvenile white seabass released.

Juvenile White Seabass - No Take
These must grow to adulthood!

.

Darrell Pickford - Head Pen Pal

Darrell was given this shirt as a thank you from Hubbs for the work he is doing to help replinish the sea with these beautiful fish.  We strive to keep the pens clean and feed the fish just the right amount of food.  To much and it sits on the bottom and causes problems.  To little and the fish will turn on each other to feed.  Self predation can be a big problem.

Overview of the program

There are thirteen white seabass grow out facilities on the Southern California coast from San Diego to Santa Barbara.  All are in harbors and protected coves except Santa Barbara which is anchored in the ocean about 1/4 mile off Stearn's Wharf.  The grow out stations consist of fiberglass raceways or large, supported nets.  The raceways are 8' x 16' rectangular structures with the open ends covered by steel mesh and steel predator barriers.  They vary in depth from 4 to 5 feet.  The nets are variously shaped but still can accommodate from 2,000 to 5,000 fish.

Except for two offshore locations, the fish are fed by automatic feeders, controlled by electric timers but filled manually every day.  Volunteers brush the end gates, vacuum the bottom and remove mortalities every day.  It is not unusual to lose two or three fish each day, but that is a small percentage if there are thousands in the pen or net.  Perished fish are weighed and measured which gives a frequent check on their growth. 

The white seabass are bred and reared initially by the Hubbs/Sea World Hatchery in Carlsbad, California.  The hatchery is supported by funds derived from mitigation fees paid by generating stations and oil companies when they damage the environment.  Food for the hatchery and grow out facilities is funded by the Ocean Enhancement Stamp that is mandatory on every ocean fishing license.  Technical support is provided to the grow-out  facilities by the hatchery, the California Department of Fish and Game and by United Anglers.  

Pens and nets are constructed or purchased by conservation-minded organizations who then provide the volunteers and the funds to maintain them.  In the case of Marina del Rey Anglers, construction of the two grow-out pens was financed by the annual  MDR Halibut Derby which also pays the maintenance costs.

Did you read about the need to save the Heads?!?

  Proposed Poster for the Fishing Public to learn about juvenile White Seabass.

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