Black rockfish
Encyclopedia
The Black Rockfish is a rockfish
of the genus Sebastes
. It is sometimes misidentified as the "red snapper."
The rockfish has a total of 8 weak head spines. It is originally all-black, but turns a mottled gray on the sides with age, often nearing white. It grows up to 25 in (64 cm) in length, and is found to a depth of 200 fathom (366 m), though usually at the range of >83 fathom (152 m).
Rockfish is prime fishing game, and a reproductive rate
unusually high for its slow-growing genus makes it more resistant to fishing then its cousins, such as the Yelloweye rockfish
, are. They are harvested in Oregon
, California
, Washington, British Columbia
, Alaska
, and the Pacific. They are a fairly common catch along the West Coast of North America
, where populations are stable. Schools of adults often aggregate over rocky bottoms or at the sea surface, habits that make them susceptible to targeted fishing.
Black rockfish are pelagic, that is they occur on the continental shelf
. Like other pelagic fish, they spend most of their time amid the water columns and are generally associated with rougher terra. This can make it somewhat inconvenient for commercial fisheries, which are often situated in nearshore, shallow water, and rocky areas (reef
s). They make up an important component of nearshore fisheries in Southeastern Alaska.
Rockfish are slow-growing and extremely long-lived, and black rockfish become sexually mature only after 6 to 8 years of age. Specimen collected off of Alaska have been aged to 49 years old. In addition they benefit from a low natural mortality
rate, at only about 7% of the total population.
Black rockfish breed via internal fertilization
, meaning that female members of the species store sperm until the development of the eggs. The phases between the start of the process and the end are separated by several months. The majority of the young are reared in late winter to early spring. Females produce between 125,000 and 1,200,000 eggs every breeding season. However it has been noted that not all of the eggs are released every year. It has been occasionally observed that the female may absorb the eggs back into her system.
Tagging studies off of Washington, Oregon, and Southeast Alaska indicate that although for the most part they spend most of their life in a small area, some long-distance travel does occur.
Sebastidae
Sebastidae is a family of marine fish in the order Scorpaeniformes. Their common names include rockfishes, thornyheads and rockcods. Despite the latter name, they are not closely related to the cods in the genus Gadus, nor the rock cod, Lotella rhacina.Not all authorities recognise this family as...
of the genus Sebastes
Sebastes
Sebastes is a genus of fish in the family Sebastidae , most of which have the common name of rockfish. Most of the world's almost 110 Sebastes species live in the north Pacific, although two live in the south Pacific/Atlantic and four Sebastes is a genus of fish in the family Sebastidae (though...
. It is sometimes misidentified as the "red snapper."
The rockfish has a total of 8 weak head spines. It is originally all-black, but turns a mottled gray on the sides with age, often nearing white. It grows up to 25 in (64 cm) in length, and is found to a depth of 200 fathom (366 m), though usually at the range of >83 fathom (152 m).
Rockfish is prime fishing game, and a reproductive rate
Basic reproduction number
In epidemiology, the basic reproduction number of an infection is the mean number of secondary cases caused by an individual infected soon after disease introduction into a population with no pre-existing immunity to the disease in the absence of interventions to control...
unusually high for its slow-growing genus makes it more resistant to fishing then its cousins, such as the Yelloweye rockfish
Yelloweye rockfish
The Yelloweye rockfish is a rockfish of the genus Sebastes, and one of the biggest members of the genus. Its name derives from its coloration. It is also known as the "red snapper." The Yelloweye is one of the world's longest-lived fish species, and is cited to live to a maximum of 114 to 120...
, are. They are harvested in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Washington, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and the Pacific. They are a fairly common catch along the West Coast of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, where populations are stable. Schools of adults often aggregate over rocky bottoms or at the sea surface, habits that make them susceptible to targeted fishing.
Black rockfish are pelagic, that is they occur on the continental shelf
Continental shelf
The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. Much of the shelf was exposed during glacial periods, but is now submerged under relatively shallow seas and gulfs, and was similarly submerged during other interglacial periods. The continental margin,...
. Like other pelagic fish, they spend most of their time amid the water columns and are generally associated with rougher terra. This can make it somewhat inconvenient for commercial fisheries, which are often situated in nearshore, shallow water, and rocky areas (reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
s). They make up an important component of nearshore fisheries in Southeastern Alaska.
Rockfish are slow-growing and extremely long-lived, and black rockfish become sexually mature only after 6 to 8 years of age. Specimen collected off of Alaska have been aged to 49 years old. In addition they benefit from a low natural mortality
Death by natural causes
A death by natural causes, as recorded by coroners and on death certificates and associated documents, is one that is primarily attributed to natural agents: usually an illness or an internal malfunction of the body. For example, a person dying from complications from influenza or a heart attack ...
rate, at only about 7% of the total population.
Black rockfish breed via internal fertilization
Internal fertilization
In mammals, internal fertilization is done through copulation, which involves the insertion of the penis into the vagina. Some other higher vertebrate animals reproduce internally, but their fertilization is cloacal.The union of spermatozoa of the parent organism. At some point, the growing egg or...
, meaning that female members of the species store sperm until the development of the eggs. The phases between the start of the process and the end are separated by several months. The majority of the young are reared in late winter to early spring. Females produce between 125,000 and 1,200,000 eggs every breeding season. However it has been noted that not all of the eggs are released every year. It has been occasionally observed that the female may absorb the eggs back into her system.
Tagging studies off of Washington, Oregon, and Southeast Alaska indicate that although for the most part they spend most of their life in a small area, some long-distance travel does occur.