The Decline of Striped Bass in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary, California

The abundance of young striped bass Morone saxatilis in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary has suffered an unsteady but persistent decline from population levels that were high in the middle 1960s. The decline was particularly severe in 1977 and abundance of young striped bass has been low every subsequent year. The adult striped bass population also has fallen during the past 20 years, but the exact period over which the decline occurred and the rate of decline are not clear. The adult population is now about one-quarter of its former size and there is little sign of recovery. We believe the Sacramento-San Joaquin striped bass population and the fishery that it supports are in serious danger. The cause is most likely one or more of four factors. (1) The adult population is now so low that egg production may be inadequate. (2) The plankton food supply of young striped bass in the western Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay has been greatly reduced each spring. Diversion of water from the delta for agricultural purposes is a prime suspect for the decrease in food production. (3) Large numbers of young fish are lost by entrainment in water diversions. (4) The population is stressed by toxic substances such as petrochemicals and pesticides. Additional studies are underway to help determine the principal cause(s) of the striped bass decline.