appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

3.0 Adult and Juvenile Fishes
April at Pier 300 and highest in January at Cabrillo. Abundances were lowest in spring (April) at
Cabrillo and lowest in winter (January) at Pier 300 (Table 3.5-2). The same temporal patterns
were observed for biomass. In addition, no distinct pattern in the number of species was
evident, although the number of species increased slightly at Pier 300 from a low in winter of 2
to a high in summer of 4. The number of species collected at Cabrillo was highest in January
(4). The main difference between the two locations was larger catches of topsmelt at Pier 300.
Because eelgrass occurs at both beach seine locations, the variability in topsmelt catch most
likely reflects natural variability rather than a habitat-associated difference between locations.
3.5.4 Historical Comparisons
Characterization of shallow-water fishes in the harbors using beach seines has occurred
infrequently since the 1980s (MEC 2002). Generally, fish abundances (pelagic and demersal
species) have been spatially and temporally variable, sometimes due primarily to differences in
sampling methodologies. However, general patterns in fish species composition collected in
otter trawl and lampara (or gill net) surveys have been relatively stable, with the same dominant
species being collected throughout the harbors. Beach seine collections have tended to be
variable in abundance, biomass, and species composition. However, few studies have
consistently sampled the same locations over time. For example, 9 species were caught at the
Seaplane Anchorage during beach seine sampling, queenfish and California grunion being the
most abundant (Horn and Hagner 1982). In 1999, MEC sampled a beach near the Seaplane
Anchorage and collected gobies, topsmelt, California halibut, diamond turbot, and pipefish
(MEC 2002). Allen et al. (1983) reported a total of 37 fish species collected over a 12-month
period at Cabrillo Beach, with northern anchovy comprising 73% of the catch. MBC (1999)
sampled fish at two stations at the Southwest Slip in inner Los Angeles harbor and collected
topsmelt, slough anchovy, deepbody anchovy, and the yellowfin goby. The previous baseline
survey (MEC 2002) collected a total of 20 fish species at the same two beach seine locations as
sampled during the current study. The current study collected similar species to most of the
previous studies, with a total of 7 species collected at both beach seine stations during all
sampling quarters. Although this number is relatively low compared to other historical studies,
sampling gear and station differences likely account for the differences in the number of
species.
3.6 NONINDIGENOUS SPECIES
The only non-indigenous or exotic species collected in the 2008 sampling surveys was the
yellowfin goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus). This species is native to Japan, Korea, and
northern China (Miller and Lea 1972, Eschmeyer et al. 1983) and was accidentally introduced
into the Sacramento-San Joaquin estuary in the 1950s, through ship ballast systems (Brittan et
al. 1963). A second population has been reported in Los Angeles, Long Beach Harbor, and
Newport Bay (Haaker 1979), and was likely established in the same manner as described
above.
A total of 53 yellowfin goby were collected in otter trawls at a total of 10 locations (5 in POLA
and 5 in POLB) during the current study. This species is also commonly collected in many of
the southern California bays and lagoons (MEC 1993, MEC 1999, Merkel and Associates 2001).
The previous baseline survey (MEC 2002) collected 19 individuals in beach seine sampling at
the Pier 300 site.
3–14 2008 Biological Surveys of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors
April 2010