North Pacific rockfish, marine fish belonging to the genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus, share unique biological and life history traits. The biological characteristics of rockfish, including longevity, high age at maturity, habitat preferences, and physiology, elevate their susceptibility to localized depletion and over-harvest. The collapse of rockfish populations off the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, and Washington have heightened concerns about the effects of fishing on rockfish populations.

In Alaska, no rockfish species are designated as overfished, but high rates of rockfish bycatch, localized depletion, and over-harvest have the potential to threaten rockfish populations. For example, reproductively isolated populations could be overfished inside a region or sub-area, such as the Aleutian Islands, without exceeding the overfishing level of the broader management area. Similarly, there is the risk of overfishing individual species that are managed as part of a species group, while the complex catch as a whole remains within allowable catch guidelines.

Life History Traits that Make Rockfish Susceptible to Localized Depletion and Overfishing

• Rockfishes are long-lived most North Pacific species live over 50 years. The oldest documented rougheye rockfish lived 205 years.
• Rockfishes reach sexual maturity late in life, 6-20 years depending on the species.
• Rockfish exhibit complex mating behavior and give birth to live young.
• Older females produce healthier larvae that grow faster and have greater survival compared to larvae from younger rockfish.
• Rockfishes exhibit strong habitat fidelity. Some spend their entire adult lives on a single rocky reef.
• Survival of large numbers of larval rockfish depends on timing with optimal oceanic conditions, which occur infrequently.

Larvae born from older rockfish carry larger oil droplets used for growth and to stave off starvation. Younger mothers produce larvae with smaller oil droplets, which are less likely to survive through the juvenile life stage.

PHOTO: STEVE BERKELEY

The Alaska Marine Conservation Council is working in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands to address specific conservation needs.

North Gulf Coast Rockfish

There are currently no reliable estimates of abundance for North Gulf Coast rockfish populations, which are needed to establish sustainable fishing levels.

Factors that hinder rockfish management:

• Stock status is virtually unknown for many species.
• Information on early life history is lacking.
• No specific target for sustainable harvest levels.
• No overall harvest limits in the recreational fishery.
• Poor accounting of bycatch.

How Can We Ensure Conservation of North Gulf Coast Rockfish?

A community-based endeavor with scientists, citizens and local commercial and recreational fishermen working together is needed to ensure conservation of rockfish over time. Scientific uncertainty about the state of rockfish populations is reason to take a more precautionary approach.

Life and Times of North Gulf Coast Rockfish - Homer Workshop

In October 2006, AMCC organized a workshop in Homer on rockfish biology and management. The workshop was carried out collaboratively with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center, Kachemak Bay Research Reserve and Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program. Scientific presentations were made in the morning followed by afternoon discussion groups.

The following scientists presented:

• Mike Byerly (ADFG) - Species descriptions & habitats
• Scott Myer (ADFG) - Life History 
• William Dunne & Charles Trowbridge (ADFG) - Commercial fishery management, monitoring and harvest trends
• Scott Meyer - Recreational fishery management, monitoring and harvest trends
• Scott Meyer - Stock assessments
• Mike Byerly - Highlight of rockfish research
• Steve Berkeley (University of California, Santa Cruz) - Managing rockfish: The west coast experience
• Jeff Short (Science advisor to Alaska Marine Conservation Council) -Responses of Alaska rockfish to a warming environment

Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands

AMCC and Ecotrust are collaborating on a program to address rockfish conservation in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The main goal is to refine spatial management of rockfish to prevent localized depletion, disproportionate harvesting pressure on segments of rockfish populations, and to avoid overfishing. With Ecotrust’s GIS expertise we have developed maps depicting locations where rockfish bycatch occurs. This was a first step in gathering data useful to understanding spatial patterns of rockfish catch. Please see the AMCC/ Ecotrust report Rockfish Bycatch Spatial Analysis in the BSAI (PDF file). AMCC/Ecotrust are continuing to build GIS layers to display more information useful for addressing the need. We are beginning a collaborative approach with leaders in the fishing industry to pursue a design for rockfish refugia.