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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

©B.Guild/ Charting Nature, www.chartingnature.com

COMMON NAMES

  • Atlantic striped bass
  • Bass
  • Rock
  • Rockfish
  • Striped bass
  • Striper

FARM FRIENDLY

As wild supplies of striped bass declined in the late 1980s, the U.S. hybrid striped bass aquaculture industry began to grow. The industry grew from 181 MT (400,000 lbs) of production in 1987 to over 5,000 MT (11 million pounds) by 2004. This initial success of the environmentally friendly hybrid bass aquaculture industry has allowed natural populations to grow to healthier levels, and has brought meaningful sources of income to many Southeastern states.

HEALTH ADVISORY

There are numerous state and local advisories cautioning all adults and children about consumption of wild striped bass due to PCBs. Environmental Defense has issued consumption advisories for adults and children due to elevated PCB, mercury and pesticide levels.

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is a popular East Coast commercial and recreational fish. Hybrid striped bass—which results from crossing striped bass with white bass (M. chrysops)—has a similar appearance to wild striped bass. The hybrid bass can be distinguished by its disjointed stripes, different from the smooth, uninterrupted stripe of the wild striped bass. The market size of hybrids is about one to three pounds. Hybrid striped bass has a mild texture and a milder flavor than that of its wild cousin.

Commercial fishermen catch striped bass with a variety of gear, including gill nets, pound nets, haul seines, and hook and line.

Hybrid striped bass are grown in freshwater tanks, ponds, and raceways in a number of states. The largest U.S. facility, in the California desert, recycles 85 percent of the water it uses and accounts for 30 percent of the total U.S. supply. Farming in inland freshwater ponds also involves minimal environmental risk.

CONSERVATION NOTES

Striped bass spawn in freshwater, making pristine wetlands habitat a critical element in their sustainability. At one time the Chesapeake Bay region accounted for nearly 90 percent of the striped bass nursery ground. After record catches of almost 6,800 MT (15 million pounds) in 1973, catches fell to less than one million pounds by 1990. Thanks to conservation efforts and a comprehensive management plan, populations have rebounded and the annual catch has remained steady over the past six years at approximately six million pounds. At this time, commercial and recreational fisheries are considered well managed and not overfished, with the Maryland fishery currently under assessment for certification to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard.

A carnivorous species, hybrid striped bass is raised on a diet that typically contains 18-35 percent fishmeal (obtained from wild-caught species), with the remainder of the feed grain-based. There are ongoing concerns regarding the removal of fish from the wild for use as fishmeal and oil. Effects on the ecosystem are not yet known; however, striped bass require a lower percentage of fishmeal and oil in their feed than other farmed carnivorous species, such as salmon.

IN SEASON

  • Available periodically throughout the year, with peak season from March through June or July

PRODUCT FORM

FRESH:

  • Live (hybrid)
  • Whole (hybrid)
  • Fillets (wild and hybrid)

FROZEN:

  • Fillets (wild)

BUYING TIPS

  • Hybrids grown in earthen ponds can have a muddy taste if growers do not monitor water quality.
  • While hybrid striped bass prices are relatively stable, there are some good buys in the eastern U.S. from time to time when growers harvest their entire ponds.
  • Expect to pay more for hybrid striped bass raised in closed-circulation systems, as production costs are higher.

AVAILABILITY OF HYBRIDS

The supply of hybrid striped bass is limited and is priced accordingly. Approximately 5,433 MT [12 million pounds (live weight)] of hybrid striped bass are farmed in the U.S. annually. Supply has grown very slowly over the past decade and is unlikely to increase significantly in the near future.