Many species of rockfish as well as Lingcod and Cabezon are hanging by a thread. Practices and regulations are much improved now but, as we have all seen in other venues, the damage has been done. Rockfish do not reproduce in vast numbers and their growth is quite slow, thus, rebuilding of stocks takes considerable time. Unlike the salmon issue, however, restoration of ground fish in Puget Sound is far less complicated and divisive. All these fish need to make a rebound is more suitable underwater habitat.
Rockfishes do well in areas of rocky outcroppings and uneven hard bottoms.
Unfortunately many of the areas that used to hold fish in the sound have been scraped and trampled by fish gear to the point that a comeback cannot be sustained. Restoration of underwater habitat for many types of non pelagic fishes is being accomplished with great success in other coastal areas of the country through the building of artificial reefs. Fish populations are bouncing back and entire ecosystems are taking hold. In addition, this is being achieved in most cases at little or no cost as a result of the managed offshore dumping of approved materials such as unwanted broken concrete. As everyone in Seattle knows, in about three months the demolition of the Kingdome Stadium is going to occur.