Striped Bass Genetic EvaluationNorth Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation
- Number of Fish Sampled in 2023: 227
- Sampling Location: Albemarle Sound
- Hatchery Contribution: 96.9%
- Partnership Cost: $10,000 paid annually
Overview
In 2023, the Foundation announced a three-year partnership with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries to determine the success of our three-year striped bass stocking partnership. This research represents the second part of our aggressive striped bass restoration strategy aimed at boosting the production of spawning adults.
The Issue
The low natural production of striped bass in the Albemarle Sound, Roanoke River, and Cape Fear River not only leads to a “depleted” FINDEX status, but also to the decision of no striped bass harvest season. Stocking efforts in these areas are a start, but they leave us asking, “Did the stockings work?”
Our Solution
To evaluate the success of the striped bass stockings, the North Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation has joined forces with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries to compare the genetics of hatchery fish used in the stockings to those sampled in the wild months later.
How it Works
Step 1: Collect genetic material (a small piece of fin) from each hatchery broodfish.
Step 2: Send the fin clips to genetics labs in North and South Carolina to determine the “genetic recipe” for each spawning tank.
Step 3: Sample juvenile striped bass from the Albemarle Sound and collect fin clips from each fish.
Step 4: Send those fin clips to the genetics labs to be compared to the genetic recipe of the broodfish.
What it Tells Us
After samples have been collected and compared, geneticists can then determine whether each fish originated from the fish hatchery or if it was born naturally in the wild. If it came from the hatchery, they can trace it back to the specific tank or broodfish to determine its female and male parent. They can also determine which year the fish was stocked, the sex of the fish, and the exact age down to the day of birth.
What’s Next?
In 2024, we received preliminary data from the 2023 genetic evaluation of striped bass in the Albemarle Sound. From the 227 juvenile fish sampled, 220 were born in the hatchery and 7 were born naturally in the wild. That makes for a 96.9% hatchery contribution. The 2024 genetic evaluation results are set to come out in mid 2025 and will help determine the initial effectiveness of the striped bass stocking program.
