Can giant sea bass make a comeback?

A child interacting with an adult giant sea bass in the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, earlier this year. — TNS

A team of scuba-diving biologists has released nearly 200 baby giant sea bass into the murky depths of Santa Monica Bay where the critically endangered fish will grow to be the size of Volkswagen Beetles.The captive-bred infants released last Wednesday quickly adapted to their new home, a submarine canyon about 9m beneath the waves, where the currents are rich in nutrients and tiny shrimp, a favourite food for the bass.The 10cm infants – adorned with orange, blue and grey colours – can reach 255kg, 2m in length and live to be 75 years old.

They are also as imperilled as black rhinos. Giant sea bass were among the most overfished species in the 1930s. Today, fewer than 500 breeding adults cruise Central and Southern California’s coastal waters, according to a recent genetic study.“Total success!” Michael Couffer, a biologist and underwater photographer involved in the reintroduction effort, said with a smile immediately after he rose to the surface.