Delta water exporters late Tuesday withdrew their request to weaken protections for striped bass, a popular sport fish in the estuary. No immediate explanation was given. The California Fish and Game Commission had been set to consider the request on Thursday.

The water users argue that nonnative stripers — as well as black bass, a prized tournament fish — eat native fish, whose precipitous decline has reduced the amount of water that can be shipped south. Fishermen, however, have protested any changes to the rules allowing more stripers to be caught. Nearly 3,500 comments were filed in opposition to the proposal.

Stripers were introduced to the Delta in the late 1800s. While they do indeed eat baby salmon and other endangered fish, some experts have said that attempting to reduce the striper population could backfire by allowing other invasive species to flourish.

Staff with the Fish and Game Commission had recommended that the water users’ request be rejected. Late Tuesday the commission announced that the request had been withdrawn.