Rockfish

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Concern for rockfish species has been voiced by fishers, managers, and scientists alike, and while the particular species, amount of decline, and areas affected can be debated, there is no debating the question that a problem does indeed exist. Serious exploitation of rockfish began in the late 1960s with removals by foreign vessels and continues to the present with removals by the domestic fleet. Significant declines have been observed in bocaccio rockfish populations, most likely as a result of variations in the marine environment, which can strongly affect the survival of young fish, as well as overexploitation. These factors have conspired to reduce population levels to the point that they are now listed on the IUCN's (World Conservation Union) Red List of "critically endangered" species. The criteria for this listing require an 80 percent reduction in the population over the last ten years or three generations . Estimates current levels of total and spawning biomass for bocaccio to be at eight percent and six percent of historic apex levels respectively. The most recent stock assessment for bocaccio indicates their current level to be at two to four percent of historic levels (NMFS 1998 Triennial Survey Data). Substantial declines can be seen in the estimates of current total and spawning biomass levels for black, yellowtail, widow, Pacific ocean perch, and canary rockfish as well as others. In the 1998 National Marine Fisheries Service report to congress on the overfishing status of commercially fished species the designation of yellowtail rockfish has changed from approaching an overfished condition to a stable status. This rapid change in status for yellowtail rockfish is very indicative of the lack of data we have for many species. (Pacific Marine Conservation Council and other sources)

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