Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Wildlife & Endangered Species Category
Click here to view all posts

Something’s fishy, says editorial: Bakersfield lawmaker’s concern for Delta smelt misguided

Posted by: Maven on March 11, 2009 at 10:49 am

From Stockton’s Record, this editorial:

A silly little bill has been introduced by a Bakersfield assemblywoman to lift the limit on striped bass fishing. Republican Jean Fuller says she wants to “strike a balance” in the Delta by allowing more stripers to be taken so more endangered smelt can live.

How thoughtful.

That there is little, if any, scientific basis for Fuller’s bill apparently is irrelevant. Delta populations of smelt, salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and, apparently unknown to Fuller, striped bass have declined significantly in recent years. That makes it difficult to argue that striped bass are satisfying their voracious appetite at the expense of smelt.

Stripers have been part of the Delta ecosystem since they were introduced in 1878, making them native to this area longer than the majority of San Joaquin County families.

Delta smelt are kind of a canary in the mine, an indicator of the health of the vast estuary. The signal they’re giving off is that the Delta is sick. The fight now is – as it has been for years – over how to cure it and still use its precious water.

Read more of this editorial by the Stockton Record by clicking here.

March 11, 2009 · Filed Under Wildlife & Endangered Species

Comments

Leave a Reply