Department of Fish and Wildlife protects endangered Steelhead Trout in the Carmel River

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife works to protect the native steelhead trout population in the Carmel River. Wednesday morning, Fish and Wildlife crews performed a rescue and research project in the Carmel River Lagoon at Carmel River State Beach, where steelhead trout use the lagoon to reach the ocean.

“Well steelhead trout have been listed under the federal endangered species act as threatened, so as a result of that they enjoy certain protections,” said Margaret Paul, Senior Environmental Scientist with CDFW.

A number of predatory, non-native striped bass have been found in the lagoon, so Wednesday morning crews spent a few hours netting and removing striped bass from the lagoon. By the end of the project, about 60 percent of the striped bass were removed.

“We are looking for opportunities whenever we can find them to improve steelhead habitat in the Carmel River,” added Paul.

The less striped bass there are in the lagoon the healthier the steelhead trout population can grow. Scientists said the bass are both known to prey on steelhead and their food source.

Several of the striped bass were also kept for sampling so scientists can get a better understanding of the health of the Carmel River.