Aquaculture of White Seabass in California – From High Intensity Rearing to Net Pen Culture for Stock Enhancement and Food Production

HSWRI has been culturing white seabass culture for stock enhancement in California since the early 1980’s.  It has evolved into one of the most comprehensive, multi-faceted marine (non salmonid) finfish farming programs in the United States.  A central hatchery maintains a breeding population of 200 adult fish that produce eggs year-round for culture.  A microsatellite-based genetics program is in place to ensure that diversity is appropriately maintained.  Seabass are cultured in high intensity recirculation systems until they are large enough to be stocked into acclimation cages prior to release.  Acclimation cages of up to 550m3 are sited over 200 mile of coastline, fully permitted by regulatory agencies, with routine benthic monitoring to assess environmental impacts.  Fish are inspected by the Department of Fish and Game prior to transport to net pens and again prior to release.  Research is ongoing to further optimize survival rates and quality of fish in culture, as well as to address issues related to sustainability.  The existing seabass hatchery has the capability of producing millions of fingerling seabass but is only authorized to release several hundred thousand.  Within the next few years, plans are in place to make surplus seabass available for sale to commercial growers.  In preparation for this extension of the existing stocking program, the culture performance and associated economics of seabass farming is currently being evaluated by commercial growers in both land-based recirculating systems and offshore net pens.