ECOLOGICAL DATA
Distribution: common in rocky areas and reefs both
inshore and offshore.
Habitat: adults common around steep cliffs, rocky reefs, offshore pinnacles and
boulder fields; mate in late fall or early winter; larvae released from May to Jul;
juveniles often hide in rock crevices; adults are demersal and solitary; tend to remain
localized and do not make extensive migrations.
Tidal elevation: range to 365 m; most common inshore at 40-70 m depth.
Food: fish (e.g. gadids, sand lance, herring, lump sucker and other
rockfishes), rock crabs, shrimp and snails.
Predators: fishes such as lingcod and rockfishes.
GROWTH RATE
Slow; late maturing; females sexually mature 50-52 cm (15-20
y), and males 52-60 cm; maximum age is over 90 yr (91 cm).
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FISHERY Important component of
commercial catch in north coast; 1986 total rockfish commercial catch was 18,781 t valued
at $11.8 million; sportfishing limit is 8.
REFERENCES
Hart, J.L. 1973. Pacific fishes of Canada. Fish. Res. Board
Can. Bull 180: 442-443.
Lamb, A., and P. Edgell. 1986. Coastal fishes of the Pacific Northwest. Harbour
Publishing, Madeira Park, B.C.: 117.
Nagetagaal, D. 1985. Rockfish. Underwater World. Fish. Oceans Can., Ottawa: 5 p.
Richards, L.J. 1986. Depth and habitat characteristics of three species of rockfish (Sebastes)
in British Columbia: observations from the submersible PISCES IV. Environ. Biol. Fish.17:
13-21.
Rosenthal, R.J., L. Haldorson, L.J. Fild, V. Moran-O'Connell, M.G. LaRiviere, J.
Underwood, and M.C. Murphy. 1982. Inshore and shallow offshore bottomfish resources in the
southeastern Gulf of Alaska (1981-1982). Alas. Dep. Fish Game. Commer. Fish. Div., Juneau:
166 p.
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