Commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing are of great importance to a diversity of communities in Southern California, especially in the context of equitable access to seafood.
Research shows that many fish species, including important game fish, use local coastal wetlands and lagoons for breeding and nursery grounds. Man-made habitats – including oil and gas platforms and other artificial reef structures – may appear to improve fish recruitment and production in Southern California, but more work is needed to understand how the restoration of existing habitats and thoughtful deployment of man-made structures may benefit fisheries. USC Sea Grant will continue to fund projects focused on sustainable fisheries in Southern California and to foster an understanding of California regulations meant to govern fisheries.
Recent Research
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Funding: NOAA (2016-2018)
Principal Investigator: Christopher Lowe, Ph.D., California State University, Long Beach
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Funding: NOAA (2016-2018)
Principal Investigators:
- Jeremy Claisse, Ph.D., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- Daniel Pondella, Ph.D., Occidental College
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Funding: NOAA (2024-2026)
Principal Investigator: Daniel Pondella, Ph.D. Occidental College
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This publication was result of USC Sea Grant-funded research by Dr. Christopher Lowe at California State University Long Beach.
Jarvis, E.T., Lowe, C.G. (2008). The effects of barotrauma on the catch-and-release survival of southern California nearshore and shelf rockfish (Scorpaenidea, sebastes spp.). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 65(7), 1286-1296.
Community Engagement
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USC Sea Grant funded Dr. Christopher Lowe at California State University Long Beach. The results of this work were used to change California Department of Fish and Wildlife Guidance on recreational catch and release of rockfish.
