Just how many giant sea bass are there in southern California?
You can help find the answer!
Giant sea bass (we still like to call them black sea bass), Stereolepis gigas, were almost fished out nearly 50 years ago in southern California. While they are now starting to make a comeback, we don’t know how many of them there are in southern California.
The Great Giant Sea Bass Count is one way to estimate the minimum number of these fish in our waters and is an important part of a joint research project between researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara and California State University, Northridge to learn more about giant sea bass populations.
The Giant Seabass count takes place August 1-7, and divers throughout southern California are encouraged to join the effort to document them. Here’s some information on how you can be a part of this important research project:
What to Do
1) Dive any location in southern California – reefs, oil platforms, shipwrecks, breakwaters, submarine canyons, sand flats, islands, mainland, shallow water, deep water – we don’t care.
2) Each dive can be for as long as you want – there is no minimum or maximum time.
3) On each dive avoid covering the same sea floor twice – so you don’t count the same fish twice.
4) For every dive record the following:
A) Date and start time
B) Location: include latitude and longitude of your dive site—this is important data; if you can’t provide this, the name of the dive site and/or your bearing from a distinct coastal landmark will be useful.
C. The number of giant sea bass and each fish’s length.
C) Bottom depth.
D) Habitat type:
a. All or mostly rocks or other hard material or all or mostly sand
or mud.
b. Lots, some, or no vegetation (kelp, sea grass etc.).
5) IMPORTANT: If you don’t see any giant sea bass that is okay, please let us know that. Zeros are important information for science.
Divers are encouraged to register for the count and learn more by liking the Giant Sea Bass Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/giantseabass. Questions and more information can be directed to Milton Love at love@lifesci.ucsb.edu
Once completed, divers should send their findings to Milton Love at giantseabasscount@gmail.com or by snailmail to: Milton Love, Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106.
Giant Seabass Count Poster (Click to enlarge)