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It’s time to go fishing for the predator, striped bass

By Steve Knell and Jeff Shields
Modesto Bee

A lawsuit to end state protections for the striped bass in California is about to go to trial in Fresno before federal Judge Oliver Wanger. The suit filed by the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta and other water users is against the California Department of Fish and Game. It seeks to lift the restrictions on how many striped bass can be caught a day, which is currently two, and reduce the size limits, currently at a minimum of 18 inches.

Why all the fuss over the striped bass?

The coalition maintains that striped bass are the source of dwindling native fish populations in the Central Valley such as salmon and Central Valley steelhead. Fish and Game’s own experts have estimated that predation (striped bass and other non-native fish eating smaller fish) may account for up to 50 percent of the outmigration loss of native fish species like small salmon.

Striped bass are a sport fish, fun to catch and good to eat, but they are non-native to the delta and all rivers feeding the delta like our Stanislaus River. However, the Department of Fish and Game continues to protect the stripers despite their voracious appetite for tiny salmon and steelhead.

To complicate the issue, a recent federal ruling called the “Biological Opinion” calls for the restoration and protection of native fish species by sending more water down the river. The Biological Opinion focuses on this solution but is negligent in addressing predation.

Our region depends heavily on river water for its economic well being, both for agriculture and tourism. That’s why the Oakdale and South San Joaquin Irrigation Districts have launched an educational campaign called Save The Stan (www.savethestan.com). We think people have a right to know what’s going on and why.

Various independent experts have studied the Biological Opinion and its effects. They have confirmed that it was hurriedly crafted, remiss in detail and does not take into account major issues like predation.

Implementing the Biological Opinion will have far reaching effects, including impacts on recreation, farm income and most of all, jobs. Even Judge Wanger agreed in the Delta Smelt Biological Opinion that the government needs to take into account the human factor in its environmental decisions.

There were originally no striped bass in California. They were introduced from the East. Striped bass advocates will tell you that the striped bass and the native fish have lived side by side for 100 years. The problem with that argument is that the Department of Fish and Game has been restocking striped bass in the region’s rivers and reservoirs for years. It is the department’s preference for game fish over native fish that has upset the apple cart.

Why does the California Department of Fish and Game continue to protect the striped bass and why aren’t they joining the effort to protect the native species? The answer may not surprise you — revenue.

The department’s main source of revenue is fishing licenses. It estimates there are 300,000 anglers who fish for striped bass yearly. An annual resident sport fishing license in California is $41.50. You do the math.

As irrigation districts, we are mandated to protect native fish species, We think our state’s own Fish and Game Department should be held to the same standard. We believe the department should lift all restrictions on the bag limit, size limit and season restrictions on striped bass. It’s time to give the tiny salmon and steelhead a chance to regain their populations.

We also think the federal government needs to alter the Biological Opinion and address predation as a principle cause of a declining native fish population. More water down the river is less jobs and more economic impacts to our communities. It’s not good.