Blog: Law Would Intentionally Wipe Out Striped Bass

[TOP SHOT]

This is not a joke - but you can (and should) help stop it!

Even fishermen who live on the East Coast are likely aware that for the second year in a row, California's salmon fishery is moribund. One of the main and longstanding reasons for decimation of many of the state's wild-salmon runs - including those historically with the greatest numbers of fish, from the mighty Sacramento River - is water diversion.

Powerful agribusiness interests have for years persuaded state and federal officials to allow the export of massive quantities of fresh water to huge corporate farms. Even after its own scientists warned the Bush Administration that water diversion would leave great numbers of threatened salmon runs dying in low, warm water, the Administration disregarded the advice and gave its thirsty (and powerful) pals in the big-farm biz the diverted water they wanted. Later that year, guess what? Great numbers of threatened salmon runs died in water far too low and warm for spawning success.

Now, as if intending to prove the bounds of their greed are truly without limit or shame, the same agricultural interests have, via a state assemblywoman by the name of Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield), come up with a bizarre scheme to divert attention from diverted water.

Turns out, it's not years of depriving wild salmon stocks of critical water for spawning and juvenile growth that are to blame for decimation of the species. The real problem? Striped bass that live in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are eating all the salmon.

Accordingly, Fuller has introduced a wacky but dangerous bill into the State Assembly that would end management of stripers and allow unlimited harvest of one of the state's great and valued game fish.

Ms. Fuller's sudden concern for wild salmon is laudable. It's too bad she couldn't revise her bill to force greedy agribusinesses and the politicians they own to share some of the water they take from the public domain - the Sacramento River - with the salmon she loves so much.

You don't have to be a Californian to be outraged at this reprehensible display of avarice. And you don't have to be a Californian to let your voice be heard. In fact, California lawmakers should hear from all of us and realize that Fuller's bill is so egregiously misguided that it has opponents chiming in from around the U.S. That's the kind of message that we should be sending.

The State Assembly's Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife will hear this bill on April 28th. Time is of the essence; if state lawmakers don't hear from anglers, this disastrous bill will pass.

Fortunately, you can register your opposition to Fuller's bill in mere seconds, by going to www.saveourstripers.org where you can read and sign onto a letter (separately, as an individual, business or NGO) instantly. When you have done that, send the link to a friend -- or a few. You may also want to visit a web site of folks who, unlike Fuller, are genuinely concerned with saving salmon and not veggies: www.restorethedelta.org.

If we don't act, and Fuller has her way, California is likely to end up with no salmon, no striped bass but plenty of cotton and artichokes.

[Dan Blanton]

Doug,

Thanks so much for your excellent editorial. It pretty much explains what is going on with our California striped bass with regard to SB 1253, the California striper eradication bill. The following is a letter I wrote voicing my opposition to this ill conceived bill and why:



March 26, 2009

Honorable Jared Huffman
Chairman, Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee
State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 942249-0006

Dear Assembly Member Huffman,

I am not only a native California voter, taxpayer and recreational angler, I also make part of my living writing about and guiding anglers who love to catch our Bay/Delta and San Luis Reservoir striped bass. Accordingly, I vehemently oppose AB 1253, the bill by Assembly member Fuller which intends to remove gamefish status from California striped bass; and also to prohibit the stocking of any State waters with striped bass or hybrid striped bass.

This bill would result in the decimation of the recreational striped bass fishery throughout the state, wherever they are fished for, as a result of over fishing by both recreational and commercial anglers. This is simply not acceptable to me and thousands of taxpaying, recreational anglers who happen to love catching this wonderful gamefish, a gamefish that contributes millions of dollars and taxes to our State’s economy. The economical web created by recreational striped bass angling is profound. Given the current state-of-the-economy, it would be insane to destroy our striped bass fishery, now or at any other time.

The striped bass, legally introduced into State waters by the California Fish and Game Commission more than 130 years ago, quickly established itself as one of the State’s premier sport fishes and was given sport fish status, with all protections due it, decades ago. It today remains one of the most popular gamefish species in the State. During the entire period the striped bass has existed in California, even when its population exceeded 12 million adult fish, the striper has co-existed with native species without any significant impact. It has not, as indicated by data collected by our Department of Fish and Game, been responsible for the decline of endangered species such as Delta smelt, salmon and steelhead. If they were responsible, that decline would have taken place a hundred years ago. If every striped bass were eliminated from California waters today, the result would not bring back those endangered species, because the cause of the decline of those species is a direct result of massive water exportation and habitat degradation from and in the California Delta.

AB 1253, a bill sponsored by a number of water districts is an obvious attempt to make the striped bass a scapegoat for the destruction these Delta endangered species. The fact is, it’s these same water districts that have caused the decline of the Delta and its fisheries. It is also an attempt to destroy the striped bass fishery and simultaneously remove the single greatest opposition to further water exportation from the Delta – the striped bass recreational angler. It’s simple: No fish, no fisherman, no one left to oppose water exportation...

Please vote this egregious bill down when it comes before your committee. If passed it will not restore our Delta’s endangered species but it will cause the destruction of one of our State’s most valued game fish. It will also further suppress our State’s struggling economy, hurting lots of people and small businesses.

Sincerely,

Captain Dan Blanton

Editor-at-Large Fly Fishing in Saltwaters magazine
Editor-at-Large California Fly Fisher
www.danblanton.com
danblanton@danblanton.com

14720 Amberwood Lane
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

I encourage everyone, Californian or not, who loves catching striped bass, to send a letter to the committee letting them clearly know that you are against SB 1253 - send a letter or fax, not an e-mail. Also go to www.saveourstripers.org and sign the petitions.

Thanks,

Dan Blanton

[Rtom45]

I went to the link, read the letter and signed it. Not sure if an individual signature will be recognized since the letter seemed to be directed towards businesses.

[Dan Blanton]

www.saveourstripers.org is for signing on businesses but you can also sign on as an individual. You can also sign on at www.savedeltafish.com as an individual. I thank you for signing the petition and encourage others who love striped bass to do so as well - even if you're not a California angler - you may need our help someday.

Thanks Again,

Dan Blanton

[nobaddays]

Read and signed the petition. . . We enjoy fishing for striped bass and will be posting/spreading your message on our blog, adding the links on our site so others can sign. . . also having the wife snailmail and fax.

Best of Luck and wishing you "No Bad Days"

scott@nobaddays.com
www.nobaddays.com