Research Document - 2005/089
Status Report on Canary rockfish Sebastes pinniger
By Stanley, R.D., P. Starr, N. Olsen, K. Rutherford, and S.S. Wallace
Abstract
Canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) is one of 102 species of the genus Sebastes, 96 of which are found in the North Pacific. This report treats canary rockfish as a single unit in B.C. waters but examines abundance trends by region. Canary rockfish have been managed in B.C. waters as two stocks: SW coast of Vancouver Island and central Queen Charlotte Sound stocks. Fishers report that they are abundant in more northern areas off the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands; but trawl effort in these areas have been limited. Populations are most abundant between B.C. and northern California. The B.C. population probably overlaps to some extent with U.S. populations. They are broadly distributed in coastal and enclosed waters of B.C. Larvae and pelagic juvenile canary rockfish occupy the top 100 m for up to 3-4 months after live-berth and then settle to a benthic habitat. Adults typically inhabit rocky bottom in 70-270 m depth on the continental shelf.
Maximum observed length, weight, and age for canary rockfish from B.C. waters is 68 cm, 5.7 kg, and 84 y, respectively. Average harvested weight is 2.03 kg. They first appear at age five in the fishery and are fully recruited by 13-14 y. The instantaneous rate of natural mortality (M) for males and young females is about 0.06. M for females appears to increase with age for an age-averaged M of about 0.09. Age of 50% maturity is 13 and 7-8 for females and males respectively. Generation time is 20-30 y. Pelagic juveniles feed on planktonic items. Adults and subadults primarily eat krill and small fishes. Trawl catches indicate a seasonal depth migration from 160-210 m in late winter to 100-170 m in late summer.
Surveys and harvest rates indicate a current adult abundance of many millions. A long term relative index for the WC of Vancouver Island indicates that, while the population may have recently returned to levels observed at the beginning of the index in the mid 1970’s, the average value of the index in recent years is 39-61% of the long term mean, or 23-45% of the earliest period. Commercial trawl catch rates in the same region appear stable since 1996. There is no long-term index available for the central coast area, but trawl catch rates appear stable since 1996.
Commercial fisheries are well monitored. Recreational and First Nations’ catches are less well monitored but will probably remain negligible over the short term. A number of surveys have been implemented in B.C. since 2000 to improve tracking of relative abundance. U.S. fisheries may have an impact on abundance in Canadian waters, however since the declaration in 1999 of an “overfished” status for canary rockfish for Washington-California waters, fishing effort and catches have been drastically reduced. Canary rockfish are a significant economic component of the commercial fisheries (>800 t/y), but play a minor role in the recreational fishery, where they are a non-directed species. Catches are small in First Nations’ fisheries, but their cultural importance may be larger than is reflected by the catches. Landings are currently constrained in these fisheries through a variety of harvest controls.
Accessibility Notice
This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.
- Date modified: