QL

155

.S63

no. 82-

11.113

BioWcal Report 82fii. 113) TR EL-82-4

September 1989

Species Profiles: Life Histories and

Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes

and Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest)

BROWN ROCKFISH, COPPER ROCKFISH,

AND BLACK ROCKFISH

Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Coastal Ecology Group

Waterways Experiment Station

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Biological Report 82(11.1I3)

TR EL-82-4

September 1989

Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements

of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest)

BROWN ROCKFISH, COPPER ROCKFISH, AND BLACK ROCKFISH

David Stein

College of Oceanography

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR 97331

and

Thomas J. Hassler

California Cooperative Fishery Research Unit

Humboldt State University

Arcata, CA 95521

Project Officer

David Moran

National Wetlands Research Center

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1010 Gause Boulevard

Slidell, LA 70458

Performed for

Coastal Ecology Group

Waterways Experiment Station

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Vicksburg, MS 39180

and

U.S. Department of the Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service

Research and Development

National Wetlands Research Center

Washington, DC 20240
This series may be referenced as follows:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983-19,. Species profiles: life histories and

environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates. U.S. Fish

Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 82(11). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4.

This profile may be cited as follows:

Stein, D., and T.J. Hassler. 1989. Species profiles: life histories and

environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific

Southwest) -- brown rockfish, copper rockfish, and black rockfish. U.S. Fish

Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 82(11.113). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4.

15 PP.
PREFACE

This species profile is one of a series on coastal aquatic organisms,

principally fish, of sport, commercial, or ecological importance. The profiles

are designed to provide coastal managers, engineers, and biologists with a brief

comprehensive sketch of the biological characteristics and environmental

requirements of the species and to describe how populations of the species may be

expected to react to environmental changes caused by coastal development. Each

profile has sections on taxonomy, life history, ecological role, environmental

requirements, and economic importance, if applicable. A three-ring binder is

used for this series so that new profiles can be added as they are prepared.

This project is jointly planned and financed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Suggestions or questions regarding this report should be directed to one Of

the following addresses.

Information Transfer Specialist

National Wetlands Research Center

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

NASA-Slide11 Computer Complex

1010 Gause Boulevard

Slidell, LA 70458

or

U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station

Attention: WESER-C

Post Office Box 631

Vicksburg, MS 39180

iii
Multiply !I% To Obtain

millimeters (mm) 0.03937 inches

centimeters (cm) 0.3937 inches

meters (m) 3.281 feet

meters (m) 0.5468 fathoms

kilometers (km) 0.6214 statute miles

kilometers (km) 0.5396 nautical miles

square meters (m*) 10.76 square feet

square kilometers (km2) 0.3861 square miles

hectares (ha) 2.471 acres

liters (1) 0.2642 gallons

cubic meters (m3) 35.31 cubic feet

cubic meters (m3) 0.0008110 acre-feet

milligrams (mg) 0.00003527 ounces

grams (9) 0.03527 ounces

kilograms (kg) 2.205 pounds

metric tons (t) 2205.0 pounds

metric tons (t) 1.102 short tons

kilocalories (kcal) 3.968 British thermal units

Celsius degrees ("C) 1.8(='C) + 32 Fahrenheit degrees

inches

inches

feet (ft)

fathoms

statute miles (mi)

nautical miles (nmi)

U.S. Customary to Metric

25.40

2.54

0.3048

1.829

1.609

1.852

millimeters

centimeters

meters

meters

kilometers

kilometers

square feet (ft*) 0.0929 square meters

square miles (mi2> 2.590 square kilometers

acres 0.4047 hectares

gallons (gal) 3.785 liters

cubic feet (ft3) 0.02831 cubic meters

acre-feet 1233.0 cubic meters

ounces (oz) 28350.0 milligrams

ounces (oz) 28.35 grams

pounds (lb) 0.4536 kilograms

pounds (lb) 0.00045 metric tons

short tons (ton) 0.9072 metric tons

CONVERSION TABLE

Metric to U.S. Customary

British thermal units (Btu)

Fahrenheit degrees (OF)

0.2520 kilocalories

0.5556 ("F - 32) Celsius degrees

iv
CONTENTS

PREFACE ................................................................

CONVERSION FACTORS .....................................................

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................

NOMENCLATURE/TAXONOMY/RANGE ............................................

MORPHOLOGY/IDENTIFICATION AIDS .........................................

REASON FOR INCLUSION IN THE SERIES .....................................

LIFE HISTORY ...........................................................

Spawning .............................................................

Larval Stage .........................................................

Juveniles ............................................................

Adults ...............................................................

Maturity and Life Span ...............................................

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS .................................................

THE FISHERY ............................................................

ECOLOGICAL ROLE ........................................................

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS .............................................

Temperature ..........................................................

Depth ................................................................

Substrate ............................................................

Other Environmental Factors ..........................................

LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Page

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iv

vi

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3

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3

4

5

5

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7

8

10

10

z

1 0

c

V
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Dr. Ralph Larson of San Francisco State University and Dr. Milton

Love of the University of California at Santa Barbara for reviewing the

manuscript and for their helpful comments.

vi
Figure 1. Brown rockfish (top), copper rockfish (middle), and black rockfish

(bottom) (from Miller and l_ea 1972).

BROWN ROCKFISH, COPPER ROCKFISH, AND BLACK ROCKFISH

NOMENCLATURE/TAXONOMY/RANGE

Scientific name . . . . . . . Sebastes

auriculatus Girard

Preferred common name . . . . . .Brown

rockfish (Fiqure 1)

Scientific name. . . . . . . .Sebastes

caurinus Richardson

Preferred common name. . . . . .Copper

rockfish (Figure 1)

Scientific name . . . . . . .Sebastes

melanops (Girard)

Preferred common name . . . . . Black

rockfish (Figure 1)

Class . . . . . . . . . . Osteichthyes

Order . . . . . . . . Scorpaeniformes

Family . . . . . . . . . Scorpaenidae

Geographic range (from Eschmeyer et

al. 1983): The brown rockfish

occurs from southeastern Alaska to

central Baja California, the copper

rockfish from the Gulf of Alaska to

central Baja California, and the

black rockfish from the Aleutian

Islands (Amchitka Island) to San

Miguel Island, southern California

(Figure 2).

1
CAPE MENDOCINO

SAN FRANL.__ PISCO _ _. B‘AI&B ‘FAN FRAiiCISCO

PACIFIC OCEAN

ia Brown,

Izl Brown

MONTER

BAY ps’stsf

Copper, and

and Copper

I

;

i;

I

I

\ NEVADA

\

\

‘\

\

\

\

\

\

CALIFORNIA

Black Rockfish

% LOS ANGELES

Ffockfish only

MILES

“-

0 5 0 100

KILOMETERS

Figure 2. Distributions of brown, copper, and black rockfish.

2
MORPHOLOGY/IDENTIFICATION AIDS

Rockfishes off California are

difficult to identify because about 60

similar species occur there. The

characters given here should be used

with caution. For positive

identifications, consult Eschmeyer et

(1983) and keys from Miller and

La:, (1972).

Many, if not all species of

Sebastes are venomous. Poison glands

are associated with some or all of the

spines of the first dorsal, anal, and

pelvic fins. The brown rockfish is

one of the few species in which poison

glands are associated with all fin

spines. The venom, although painful,

is not dangerous except when it

provokes an allergic reaction or where

the injury becomes infected (Roche and

Halstead 1972).

Brown rockfish. Distinguished

from all other Sebastes occurring off

California in having a flat

interorbital space, coronal spines in

most individuals (although not present

individuals

ilshington)

from Puget Sound,

light brown body with

darker brow; mottling, pinkish caudal,

pelvic, and pectoral fin membranes,

and a prominent dark brown blotch on

the gill cover. Dorsal fin XIII, 12-

15; anal fin III, 5-8; pectoral fin

15-19; gill raker teeth on first arch

25-30; lateral line pores 42-49.

Copper rockfish. Distinguished

by the dark brown, olive, pink, or

orange-red back with patches of yellow

or copper-pink; the white lateral line

extending from below the first dorsal

fin to the tail; and the smooth

underside of the lower jaw. The

copper rockfish from the southern part

of the species range has often been

identified as S. vexillaris; recent

research has sh&n that the two names

are synonyms, and that S. caurinus has

precedence (Chen 1975,1986). Dorsal

fin XIII, 11-14; anal fin III, 5-7;

pectoral fin 16-18; gill raker teeth

on first arch 26-32; lateral line

pores 37-45.

Black rockfish. Distinguished by

its body color of black or blue-black

mottled with gray. First dorsal fin

with black spots. Occasionally has a

"dirty white" stripe along the lateral

line. The upper jaw extends to or

behind the eye. Dorsal fin XIII, 13-

16; anal fin III, 7-9; pectoral fin

18-20; gill raker teeth on first arch

33-39; lateral line pores 46-53.

REASON FOR INCLUSION IN THE SERIES

Species of the genus Sebastes are

ubiquitous off Californiarthward, and support important sport and

commercial fisheries. In 1976,

rockfish accounted for about 70% by

number of all landings of ocean sport

species in California and are the most

important group of fish in the sport

fishery (Oliphant 1979). The brown

rockfish, copper rockfish, and black

rockfish are all significant in the

California ocean sport fishery, and

the three species are also taken in

the commercial fishery.

LIFE HISTORY

Spawning

Larger females produce more

offspring (Echeverria 1986). The

exact relationships vary with species

as a power of length. All rockfishes

have internal fertilization and bear

live young. The young receive

substantial nourishment from the

mother, probably by the consumption

and assimilation of ovarian fluid

(Boehlert and Yoklavich 1983). Little

is known of the spawning habits and

early life history of the individual

species because the larvae and

juveniles are very difficult to

identify. Echeverria (1986) suggested

that courtship and insemination

apparently occur over a period of at

least a month, with extrusion of the

3
young in any one species occurring

during at least a 2 month period."

Individuals of most species probably

spawn once a year, but in some species

spawning may occur more than once

(Moser 1967).

Brown rockfish. Spawning areas

and times off California are unknown.

Eggs and larvae from San Diego were

reported and described by Eigenmann

(1893). In Puget Sound, Washington,

spawning occurs once a year; eggs

mature and ripen in winter (DeLacy et

al. 1964), and fertilization

apparently occurs just after

ovulation, in March and April (Hitz

and DeLacy 1965). Embryos develop and

are released from April to July

(DeLacy et al. 1964). Females 311 mm

in total length (TL; all lengths are

total length unless otherwise

indicated) have about 52,000 eggs, and

those 477 mn long have about 339,000

(DeLacy et al. 1964). Fecundity is

directly related to TL of female as

follows: Fecundity = 3.6311 x 1O-4

TL3*34124 (DeLacy et al. 1964).

Copper rockfish. Little is known

of the early life history. In

Washington waters, spawning occurs

once a year (DeLacy et al. 1964).

Data on egg maturation and spawning

vary: in Puget Sound, Washington, eggs

mature by February (Patten 1973) or

from March to May (Hitz and DeLacy

1960). Diameter of ripe eggs ranges

from 0.8 to 1.1 mm (DeLacy et al.

1964). Most females had embryos in

April 1959-60 (DeLacy et al. 1964)

suggesting that fertilization occurs

in March; however, Hitz and DeLacy

(1965) suggested that it occurs in

April or May. Patten (19731 suggested

parturition occurs in April. As in

other rockfishes, fecundity is related

to length: Fecundity = 2.6095 x 1O-g

TL5.34656. Egg production ranged from

15,600 eggs in a 242~mn female to

640,000 in one 474 mm long (DeLacy et

al. 1964).

Black rockfish. Spawning

probably occurs once a year. Eggs

developing in August have been

reported (DeLacy and Dryfoos 1962).

Parturition occurs from February to

April off British Columbia (Hart 1973)

and probably occurs in January off

Oregon (Westrheim 1975). Although

there are no reports from California,

parturition probably occurs in January

or somewhat earlier. Spawning areas

are unknown. On the basis of

occasional captures of spent females,

however, Dunn and Hitz (1969)

suggested that spawning may occur in

offshore waters.

Larval Stage

Larvae and small juveniles are

pelagic for periods of several months

ii,,? year (Boehlert and Yoklavich

. Off California they are

abundant and widely distributed in the

California Current (Ahlstrom and

Stevens 1976; Ahlstrom et al. 19781.

However, because of identification

problems, the distributions of larvae

and juveniles of individual species

are poorly known.

Brown rockfish. Larvae have been

described by Eigenmann (18931, Moser

et al. (19771, Stahl and Johnson

(1985), and Westrheim (1975). At

birth, they are 5-6 mm long and are

easily distinguished (Hitz and DeLacy

1960; Westrheim 1975).

Copper rockfish. Larvae were

described by Hitz and DeLacy (19601,

Moser et al. (19771, Stahl and Johnson

(1985) and Westrheim (1975). Length

at birth is 5-6 mn. Larvae are

pelagic until they are 40-50 mm

standard length (SL), and have an

ontogenetic migration (Anderson 1983).

Black rockfish. Larvae and their

development off Oregon are well known

(Laroche and Richardson 1980, 1981).

At birth, the larvae are about 5.5 mm

long (Boehlert and Yoklavich 1983).

The occurrence of larvae is highly

seasonal; they are captured in the

water column from April to June. They

are pelagic at lengths less than 40-50

4
mm and benthic at larger sizes

(Laroche and Richardson 1980).

Juveniles

Brown rockfish. Juveniles occur

in shallow nearshore waters, often

around piers and in bays (Miller and

Gotshall 1965). Use of estuaries as

nursery grounds may be unique (R.

Larson, San Francisco State Univ.,

pers. comm.). Turner et al. (1969)

reported 37-50 mm long individuals

hiding in crevices of artificial reefs

in Santa Monica Bay, California.

individuals offshore at <60 mm SL in

summer; nearshore on bottom at 40-

70 mm SL in June; and in estuaries at

35-92 mm SL from April to October

(Boehlert and Yoklavich 1983), often

in eelgrass (Bayer 1981). Larger

juveniles up to 15 cm long (ages I or

II) may live in rocky holes, but use

of these is directly reduced by

competition with obligate benthic

species (Gascon and Miller 1982).

Adults

Brown rockfish. Adults occur in

shallow water, bays. and offshore to

depths of 128 m" (Eschmeyer et -al:

1983), usually near bottom in rocky

areas, associated with caves and

crevices (Turner et al. 1969). Off

southern California, however, some

frequent sewer outfalls (Allen et al.

1976).

Copper rockfish. In central

California, juveniles are closely

associated initially with surface and

mid-depth Macrocyctis kelp beds

(Anderson 1983; Hallacher and Roberts

1985). Individuals become benthic at

40-50 mm long in late April and May

(Anderson 1983). Off British

Columbia, juveniles have been found

hiding in gooseneck barnacles on

flotsam (Hitz 1961); they are

recruited to small artificial reefs in

September and October, where at least

some remain until they are 2 years old

(Gascon and Miller 1981). Bays may

also be used as nursery areas

(Gotshall et al. 1980).

Black rockfish. In the kelp beds

of Monterey Bay, California, juveniles

live both in the canopy and on bottom

(Miller and Geibel 1973) often

associated with kelp holdfasts and

sporophylls (Anderson 1983). They are

recruited to the bottom primarily in

June. Different color forms reflect

habitat--orange when associated with

kelp, darker when in the water column

(Anderson 1983). Off Oregon, age 0

juveniles occur seasonally from June

to October (Laroche and Richardson

1981). The June transition from

pelagic to benthic habitat is marked

by a distinct inshore movement to

estuaries, tidepools (Moring 1972),

and nearshore depths of less than 20 m

(Laroche and Richardson 1980; Carlson

and Straty 1981). Small juveniles

thus occur in three habitats: pelagic

Older fish seemingly move into

deeper water. Only fish of 5 years

or less occur in San Francisco Bay;

the older ones are offshore (Mathews

and Barker 1983).

Copper rockfish. Depth ranges

from surface to 183 m on rock or rocky

sand bottoms (Eschmeyer et al. 1983).

In Carmel Bay, California, the

preferred depth was about 25 m;

however, the fish were in somewhat

shallower water during upwelling

(Hallacher and Roberts 1985). Adults,

which are closely associated with the

bottom (Hallacher and Roberts 1985),

never occur on sand, but are usually

in and around rocks, with which they

maintain much closer contact in winter

and spring (Patten 1973). On an

artificial reef in British Columbia,

98% of the fish seen were in contact

with the bottom; less than 2% were

swimming (Gascon and Miller 1982).

Tagging experiments in Puget Sound

have suggested that mature fish do not

move far from their chosen location

(Mathews and Barker 1983).

Foraging activity is reduced by

high currents and turbidity such as

c

3
occur during tidal ebb and flow. At

slack water, the fish move out of

crevices and away from the reef

(Prince 1972).

Black rockfish. Adults occur

from the surface to at least 366 m,

but are most abundant in water less

than 54 m deep (Laroche and Richardson

1980). In Carmel Bay, California,

fish usually live at depths of 12 m or

less, but may be abundant as deep as

17 m during upwelling (Hallacher and

Roberts 1985).

Black rockfish tend to form

schools of mixed sex in midwater (Hart

1973; Echeverria 1986), especially in

shallow water (Hallacher and Roberts

1985). On shallow water British

Columbia reefs, schools of black

rockfish occurred only from June to

September (Gascon and Miller 1981).

Gascon and Miller (1982) reported that

39% of the fish seen were in contact

with the bottom, but 61% were

swimming. The fish tend to be closer

to the bottom during non-upwelling

periods (Hallacher and Roberts 1985).

In kelp beds, larger adults seemingly

migrate outside the kelp diurnally,

returning before dusk; juveniles and

small adults remain in the kelp

(Leaman 1977) and also tend to be

closer to bottom at night (Hallacher

1977). Adults usually remain in one

area, but may travel more than 600 km

(Coombs 1979; Mathews and Barker

1983). Off Oregon, the larger fish

tend to be in the deeper (20-50 m)

water (Steiner 1979). Abundance in

shallow water declines in winter and

increases in summer (Gascon and Miller

1982).

Maturity and Life Span

Brown rockfish. Off central

California, fish reach at least 19

years of age. Some males are sexually

mature at 3 years (260 mm); all are

mature at 10 years (380 mm) (Wyllie

Echeverria 1987). In Puget Sound,

Washington, sexual maturity is reached

by 225 mn (DeLacy et al. 1964).

Copper rockfish. Off Central

California, fish reach at least 20

years of age. Males may be sexually

mature at 3 years of age (300 mm); all

are mature by 7 years (400 mm).

All females are mature by 8 years

(410 mm)~o~n~ie Echeverria 1987). In

Puget Washington, sexual

maturity usually occurs at age IV, but

occasionally at III. Some females

225 mm have been reported with ripe

eggs (DeLacy et al. 1964). Additional

life history parameters were presented

in a review by Gunderson and Dygert

(1988). Average length of a mature

female in an unexploited stock was

366 mm; age at 50% maturity for females

was 4 years.

In a study of 20 different species

of fish that included copper rockfish,

the instantaneous natural mortality

rate was positively correlated among

species with the gonadosomatic index

(gonad weight + body weight),

indicating that this index can predict

the natural mortality rate for a

fishery management model of copper

rockfish (Gunderson and Dygert 1988).

Black rockfish. Off central

California. fish reach at least 21

years of age. Males may be sexually

mature at 3 years of age (250 mn); all

are mature by 10 years (430 mm).

Females may mature at 5 years

(300 mm); all are mature by 11 years

(480 mm) (Wyllie Echeverria 1987).

Off Oregon, sexual maturity occurs at

5 years in males and 6 years in

females (McClure 1982). The Oregon

Department of Fish and Wildlife

considers 50% of fish 400 mm fork

length (FL) to be sexually mature

(Coombs 1979).

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS

Brown rockfish. Maximum length

is 55 cm (Eschmeyer et al. 1983).

Little is known about growth. Ip San

Francisco Bay, daily growth of fish

150-260 mm long ranged from 0.1460 to

0.1927 mm. Winter was a period of

stress and reduced growth owing to

6
reduced availability of food and

consequently decreased body fat

reserves (Adams and Ryan 1982).

Copper rockfish. Maximum length

is 57 cm (Eschmeyer et al. 1983).

Length-weight relations are similar

for males and non-gravid females but

change seasonally.

1.6231 x

Weight (g) = 10-S ~~3.040252 from

September to November; and = i.4945 x

10-5 FL2.53381from December to March

(Patten 1973).

Little is known about growth.

Growth rates are fastest in fish of

age III or younger in Puget Sound,

Washington (Patten 1973) as well as

in Monterey Bay, California, where

monthly growth ranged from 58 mm in a

fish 200 mm long to 24 mm in a 320~mm

fish (Miller and Geibel 1973). In

Humboldt Bay, California, fish were

110-155 mm long as underyearlings,

138-196 m at age I, 172-231 mm at age

II, and 220-300 mm at age III. Growth

rates were highest in summer,

coinciding with high feeding rates

(Prince and Gotshall 1976) and

upwelling. A review by Gunderson and

Dygert (1988) presents von Bertalanffy

growth parameters of 0.12 for K (growth

rate) and 500 mm for L 0 (asymptotic

size); longevity was 19 years.

Black rockfish. Maximum length

is 60 cm (Eschmeyer et al. 1983).

Length-weight relation for fish off

Oregon was weight (g) = 2.5~10~~

FL2.g22 for males and = 1.17~10-~

FL3.126 for females (McClure 1982).

The age-length relation was

described by Six and Horton (19771,

McClure (1982) and Echeverria (1986).

Six and Horton calculated von

Bertalanffy equations of: FL=50.3[1-

;L:;",".;[;$!g: . :",,",;~~e+f,or74~~;;s . ;;;

females. After age VII, females were

always larger than males of the same

age; females reached slightly larger

sizes than males (550 mm FL vs 500 mm

FL) (Six and Horton 1977; Echeverria

1986).

Growth rates are directly related

to temperature, if food is abundant.

Juveniles may select higher

temperatures, which maximizes growth

(Boehlert and Yoklavich 1983). Coombs

(1979) reported that winter -caught

fish were distinctly smaller than

those captured in summer and fall, and

speculated on possible reasons why.

THE FISHERY

The 60 species of rockfishes that

live in California coastal waters

support important commercial and sport

fisheries. Rockfish are caught

commercially with trawls, gill nets

and with hook-and-line (Lenarz 1986).

In 1985, the California landings were

about 12,200 t, worth $8.4 million to

the fishermen in the trawl fishery;

2,800 t, with an estimated value of

several million dollars in the gillnet fishery; and about 1,100 t, valued

at l-2 million dollars in the hookand-line fishery.

Rockfish account for about 34% by

weight of all sport fish landed in

California and are the most important

group of fish caught (Lenarz 1986).

In 1984, sport anglers in California

landed an estimated 8 million rockfish

(about 4,000 t); the value of the

sport fishery, when estimated costs

associated with fishing trips were

included, was about $1 billion.

Brown rockfish. These fish were

once cauaht incidentally by

commercial -fishermen, usually in

lobster traps (Feder et al. 1974) or

by salmon trollers (Miller and

Gotshall 1965). Recently, however,

the brown rockfish has become the

most important commercial rockfish in

San Francis0 Bay; it is used to

supply restaurants and commands a

high price (Lenarz 1986).

Brown rockfish are also important

in the summer sport fishery in kelp

beds (Ahlstrom et al. 1978). Most are

caught from party boats or skiffs

(Miller and Gotshall 1965). Quast
(1968a) calculated a density exceeding

1.3 lb/acre in a southern California

kelp bed.

Copper rockfish. Among species .

the sport fishery off

~~lifornia"~~ 1957 to 1961, copper

rockfish ranked 18th by number and

12th by weight (Miller and Gotshall

1965). Catches of copper rockfish in

experimental trawls off southern

California did not exceed 0.1% of the

total number of rockfish caught

(Mearns et al. 1980)--probably because

the rocky areas that copper rockfish

prefer are difficult to trawl.

Black rockfish. The black

rockfish is the most important of the

three species treated here in both

the commercial and sport fisheries.

The commercial fishery off California

yielded 44.5 t of black rockfish in

1985. Of the 46 species caught in

the sport fishery in 1984, 3--the

blue rockfish (Sebastes

black rockfish, and m!;

rockfish (Sebastes flavidus)--

accounted formof the catch by

weight (Lenarz 1986). Black rockfish

ranked 12th by number and 8th by

weight for all species in the sport

fish catch between Oregon and Point

Arguello, California, despite being of

only minor importance in the catch

south of Monterey (Mille and Gotshall

1965).

The black rockfish has been the

subject of many studies of processing

and preservation, including preparation (Babbitt et al. 1976; Patashnik

et al. 1974, 1976; Adu et al. 1983),

storage (Miyauchi et al. 1975; Collins

et al. 1980), and spoilage (Miller et

al. 1973; Miller et al. 1973a,b).

ECOLOGICAL ROLE

Many of the rockfish species

occur together. Substantial evidence

suggests that co-occurring species

have evolved to avoid competition with

each other for limiting resources such

as food, shelter and space,

increase fitness by eco

specialization (Hallacher

Steiner 1979; Larson 1980; Ha

and Roberts 1985).

or to

logical

1977;

llacher

Juveniles of all species

occurring in central California kelp

beds are eaten bv many fish. includina

lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus; wolf:

eels, Anarrhichthys ocellatus; and

cabezon (Hallacl;erS+or;)a;nichthys marmoratus

All three species probably

produce and detect sound by using

extrinsic muscles associated with the

swimbladder. The sounds of copper

rockfish and black rockfish, which

have been recorded, are apparently

associated with agonistic displays

such as territorial defense (Hallacher

1974).

Brown rockfish. The diet of the

brown rockfish consists of crabs and

small fish (Feder et al. 1974), and

shrimp, isopods, and polychaetes

(Quast 1968b). In Humboldt Bay,

California, fish 141-300 mm long ate

40% shrirrp (by volume) and 33% crabs

(Prince 1972).

Brown rockfish are known to be

hosts of 3 copepods, 1 digenean, 2

monogeneans, and 2 nematodes (Love and

Moser 1983).

Copper rockfish. These fish are

oooortunistic carnivores that feed

largely on benthic organisms--

primarily crustaceans, fish, and

molluscs (Larson 1972; Prince 1972;

Patten 1973; Prince and Gotshall

1976). Food type is related to size.

The smaller fish (<45 mn SL) in the

kelp canopy eat primarily calanoid

copepods, with some harpacticoids and

zoea (;A;y;r 1985). Fish 110-155 mm

eat crustaceans such as

anphipods, shrimp, caprellids, and

isopods (Prince and Gotshall 1976;

Singer 1985) and pinnixid crabs

(Prince 1975); l- to 3-year-olds eat

juvenile Dungeness crabs (Cancer
maqister) and anchovies, with fish

increasing and crustaceans decreasing

as the fish grow (Prince 1972; Patten

1973). In Puget Sound, Washington,

fish >300 mm FL ate mostly fish

(Patten 1973). The largest ones

(>400 mm) were especially aggressive

feeders; spiny dogfish appeared to be

a common prey (Bargmann 1977). The

fish apparently feed both during the

day and at night. Prey varies

seasonally; crabs were less abundant

in stomachs in winter

than in other seasons

Copper rockfish

eaten by seals and

1972) and probably

predators.

and early spring

(Prince 1972).

are apparently

lingcod (Prince

by other large

Competitive interactions are

unclear. Gascon and Miller (1982)

found that the use of space on a small

reef seemed unaffected by the

abundances of other species, and

Hallacher (1977) concluded that copper

rockfish "frequent particular

locality at least durinl part of the

year" but probably have a wider home

range than co-occurring congeners. In

both studies, however, copper rockfish

were not abundant enough to support

adequate observations. Prince (1972)

concluded from diving observations

that individual copper rockfish

display agonistic behavior to show

"protective territoriality."

Copper rockfish are hosts of many

endoparasites and ectoparasites,

including 2 branchiurans, 3 cestodes,

2 acanthocephalans, 6 nematodes, 1

hirudinoid, 9 copepods, 3 monogeneans,

13 digeneans, and 1 protozoan (Sekerak

and Arai 1977; Love and Moser 1983).

Black rockfish. Food off Oregon

is primarily pelagic nekton (smelt,

anchovies) and zooplankton such as

salps, mysids, and crab megalops

(Steiner 1979). Black rockfish also

eat kelp clingfish, Rimicola muscarum

(Roland 1978). Off Oreaon in the

spring, crab megalops make up 25% of

the diet by weight (Steiner 1979).

Off central California, juveniles ate

copepods and zoea (Singer 1985).

Adult prey was primarily juvenile

rockfish (73% of stomach contents by

weight), euphausiids, and amphipods

during upwelling periods, but at other

times primarily invertebrates

(Hallacher and Roberts 1985). The

percent of empty stomachs during nonupwelling periods was nearly double

that during upwelling. In addition,

food overlap with co-occurring

congeners decreased during nonupwelling periods, suggesting that

food may then be a limiting factor for

rockfish occurring in kelp forests

(Hallacher and Roberts 1985). Most

feeding is probably during the day and

at twilight (Hallacher 1977). The

rate of gastric evacuation of ingested

squid and fish (dry weight) is about

6% per hour--about 76 hours are

required for stomach clearance

(Brodeur 1984).

Black rockfish are known to be

eaten by lingcod and yelloweye

rockfish Sebastes ruberrimus (Steiner

1979).

Competitive relations are poorly

known. As expected, from their

midwater habitat, there is little

competition for food with benthic

species (Steiner 1979). Off

California, Hallacher (1977) found

that the diet of black rockfish was

unlike that of other rockfishes with

which it had synchronous spatial

overlap, but he was unable to explain

its actual competitive relations with

these species. Benthic black rockfish

compete with other species for hiding

places; the abundance of juvenile

black rockfish on small reefs

decreases as that of several other

species increases (Gascon and Miller

1982).

Parasites include leeches on fins

and body in Oregon (Burreson 1977);

and a myxosporidean in the heart in

central California (Moser et al. 1976)

In all, 5 copepods, 6 diageneans, 2

hirudinoids, 2 monogeaneans, and 1

9
protozoan have been reported (Love and 19831. Small black rockfish tend to

Moser 19831. be epibenthic, and the larger ones

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Temperature

Brown rockfish. Because brown

rockfish occur in shallow water, they

are exposed to a relatively broad

range of seasonal

variations, of at least 10

otemperatgre

C to 17 C

(Turner et al. 1969). Their capacity

for acclimation is higher than that of

rockfishes living below the

thermocline and they can tolerate

higher temperatures--to at least 22 C

(Wilson et al. 1974). Occurrence in

estuaries and oceanic waters suggests

relatively broad salinity tolerance

(R. Larson, San Francisco State Univ.,

pers. comm.).

Copper rockfish. No specific

information is available o n

temperature requirements of copper

rockfish; however, their depth range

is relatively broad, and the minimum

depth decreases seasonally with

upwelling (Hallacher and Roberts

1985)--suggesting that lower

temperatures are preferred (although a

broad range can be tolerated).

Black rockfish. No specific

temperature data are available for

adults. Juveniles occur at water

temperatures of 8 to 18' C (Boehlert

and Yoklavich 1983). Black rockfish

are more closely associated with the

bottom during non-upwelling seasons

(Hallacher and Roberts 1985)

suggesting that the warmer surface

waters may not then be suitable for

adults; hcwever, this behavior could

also be a result of decreased food in

the water column.

occur well up in the water column,

usually near or in such shelter as

kelp or pilings-- though they may live

in deeper waters in winter (Moulton

1977). Black rockfish off Oregon

(Steiner 1979) and off California

(Miller and Geibel 1973) were

relatively much more abundant on

shallow reefs than on deeper ones.

Substrate

Although habitats of different

rockfish species are separated by

depth and substrate type, Gascon and

Miller (1981) concluded that "habitat

selection is based primarily on bottom

shape (shelter) and secondarily on

depth." Shelter .

important for bra:

i;;ticularly

copper

rockfishes, which are usually

associated with it.

Brown rockfish are closely

associated with rocky substrates and

kelp beds, copper rockfish are

primarily on rocky reefs or rock-sand

bottom of irregular bathymetry, and

black rockfish are primarily in

midwater--usually in kelp or around

cover such as pilings and piers,

although they are occasionally

offshore in open waters.

significant proportion of (usuallyA

smaller) black rockfish are benthic on

rocky bottom. Data on shelter-seeking

is conflicting. Hallacher and Roberts

(1985) stated that the fish do not

occupy holes in the bottom even if

competing demersal species are

removed, whereas Gascon and Miller

(1982) found that fish 6-15 cm long

sheltered in holes. These behaviors

may be related to size.

Depth Other Environmental Factors

The brown rockfish occurs in bays No information is available on

and nearshore waters to depths of dissolved oxygen requirements, salin128 m, the copper rockfish on the ity tolerances, or effects of water

bottom from shallow water to 183 m, currents or turbidity for these

and the black rockfish from the rockfishes, and their sensitivity to

surface to 366 m (Eschmeyer et al. habitat alterations is unknown.

10
LITERATURE CITED

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Morphology and growth of a pugheaded

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auriculatus. Calif. Fish Game

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analysis of character association

and bilateral pattern and their

11
significance in species separation.

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rockfishes (Scorpaenidae: Sebastes)

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rockfishes (Scorpaenidae:Sebastes)

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Biol. Fishes 12(2):91-110.

12
Hart, J.L. 1973. Pacific fishes of

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180. 740 pp.

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Queen Charlotte Sound. J. Fish.

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rockfishes Sebastes flavidus and

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entomelas and S.

Scorpaenidae) 2nd

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S. -mystinus, S. flavidus, ’ and S.

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bathymetric segregation of two

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activities of the black rockfish

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of Macrocystis integrifolia Bory in

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Mathews, S.B., and M.W. Barker. 1983.

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and M.J. Sherwood. 1980. Distribution, abundance, and recruitment

of soft-bottom rockfishes (Scorpaenidae: Sebastes) on the southern

California maid shelf. Calif.

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Miller, D.J., and J.J. Geibel. 1973.

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life histories; a reef ecology

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1 3
Miller, D.J., and R.N. Lea. 1972.

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Mi ller, A. III, R.A. Scanlan, J.S.

Lee, and L.M. Libbey. 1973a.

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an Achromobacter species. APP~.

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Miller, A. III, R.A. Scanlan, J.S.

Lee, and L.M. Libbey. 1973b.

Identification of the volatile

cOmoOUndS produced in sterile fish

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25(6):952-955.

Miller, A. III, R.A. Scanlan, J.S.

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Kudo. 1975. Frozen storage keeping

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Moring, J.R. 1972. Check list of

intertidal fishes of Trinidad Bay,

California, and adjacent areas.

Calif. Fish Game 58(4):315-320.

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14
Sebastes caurinus Richardson,

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.5

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maturation and identification of

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250.
CI"'ORT ~""lA'K)N '_,i:yii?al Report 82(11.113)*

2. & amcmuwr ML..._ u

Lnatisuomla

Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements

s-m*

of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest) --

September 1989

Brown Rockfishl, Copper Rockfishl, and Black Rockfish.

&

I.rwrIu#r)

David Stein and Thomas J. Hassler

L hr(wm* O*~~ru8~coa m *

i. tid- Wbn4.ItNa ma- .a Au**,- 80. hi.nn~rrlwti urc w

College of Oceanography Calif. Cooperative Fishery Research Unit

Oregon State University Hunboldt State University

Corvallis, OR 97331 Arcata, CA 95521

11. emr~clm w G~*ntlcl *r

m

u. SWoqmm1rBtImn N9ma l nd Mdnss

sl

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Fish and Wildlife Service Waterways Experiment Station

National Wetlands Research Center P.O. BOX 631

Washington, D.C. 20240 Vicksburg, MS 39180

*U.S. Army Corps of Enqineers Report No. TR EL-82-4

ma AbaM n.lmit zoo. rds,

Species profiles are literature sunmaries of the taxonomy, morphology, range, life

history, and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic species. They are designed

to assist in environmental impact assessment. Rockfishes are the basis of very important

sport and commercial fisheries in the northeastern Pacific. Exploitation is increasing.

Brown rockfish (Sebastes auriculatus), copper rockfish (S. caurinus), and black rockfish

(S. melano s) are three important members of this family: mofthe species occur

throug --t+- out the Pacific Southwest region; the black r-ockfish occurs only from about

Santa Barbara northward. The habitats and foods differ significantly among species,

although at certain times and places they may overlap. Black rockfish tend to be

pelagic; the other two species are benthic. Their foods generally reflect these

differences in habitats. These species may compete with one another and with other

rockfish and benthic species for habitat. The environmental factors determining

distribution, growth, and survival are generally unknown. All rockfish have internal

fertilization and bear live young. The reproductive behavior, spawning times, and

spawning areas of these species are poorly known , although larvae of all have been

described. Growth patterns are not well understood. All three species are apparently

rather long-lived.

.

1 Unclassified I

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Fishes Estuaries

Fisheries Growth

Feeding habits Temperature

Life cycles Depth

Life history Sebastes caurinus

Brown rockfish Black rockfish

Sebastes auriculatus

Copperrockfish

Sebastes melanops

Habitats
As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of

the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned

public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the

wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish

and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our

national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses

our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their

development is in the best interests of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation

communities and for people who live in island territories under U.S.

administration.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

TAKEPRIDE

in America

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

National Wetlands Research Center

NASA-Slide11 Computer Complex

1010 Gause Boulevard

Slidell, LA 70458

POSTAQE AND FEE8 PAID

U8 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

INT423

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300