Bass in California are being targeted for eradication in yet another new bill in Congress.
In a quest to quench the thirst of agriculture interests and a growing population in southern California, Senator Feinstein (D-CA) has introduced another piece of legislation to address drought problems. Senate Bill 2533 – the California Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act – ignores state and federal environmental protections by permitting more water to be pumped out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to other parts of the state.
But there are also provisions in the bill that threaten the world-class bass fishing in the California Delta. Less water is bad news for the endangered salmon stocks so to further protect them, this bill also calls for the eradication of “non-native” sportfish like striped bass and largemouth bass. The bill authorizes the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (and forces) California Fish & Wildlife to eradicate bass and destroy their habitat to drastically reduce numbers.
In this continuing battle over water, bass and other non-native species are being used as scapegoats for the demise of the salmon when in reality, the problem is not predator fish, it is the lack of water and the lack of a sound water policy that safeguards the California Delta ecosystem from being drained dry for nuts and fruits further south.
While we know that bass, stripers and channel catfish eat baby salmon at times, all of these species have co-existed in the Delta for decades without serious issues. It was not until the water problems began to crop up that the salmon runs started to dwindle to the point where some stocks are now listed as endangered. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA are looking at any and all ways to protect what salmon are left and the “native-only” supporters have convinced the Feds that eradicating predators and destroying their habitat must be part of the plan.
But what a pipe-dream that is. Anyone who has ever seen or fished the Delta knows how vast an area it is and how impossible it will be to eliminate black bass and their habitat. And how do they stop the migration of striped bass in and out of the Delta through San Francisco Bay? It will be a huge waste of taxpayer dollars and agency resources and have a very poor return on investment. And the bass and striper fishing and the economic benefits those fisheries bring to California will be lost.
Instead of blaming bass, Congress and these federal agencies should focus on water management policies that benefit the salmon runs, restoring habitat, timing water releases and using barges or trucking smolts past the California Delta. And by the way…leave bass management to California Fish & Wildlife, not to the federal agencies.
This bill has to be stopped. We need you to contact your Senator today and tell them to oppose S. 2533. KeepAmericaFishing.org has an automated system that sends a prepared letter to your state’s Senators urging them to oppose this bill. Go to this page on the KAF site.
After you submit your letter, a second page will pop up asking if you would like to send a note to a friend urging them to take action as well. Take advantage of that feature and help spread the word. Congress listens when enough people speak up, but you’ve got to take that first step.
