Rockfish monitoring

Copper Rockfish on Sponge - photo Adam Taylor

Monitoring of Rockfish in Howe Sound has been on pause since the last Annual Rockfish Abundance Surveys conducted by Oceanwise in 2020. We are kick-starting these surveys in Howe Sound to ensure further conservation measures to protect important habitats and threatened species are based on the most recent data.

Conservation measures put in place by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2007 resulted in specific Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) and a ban on fishing for rockfish in Howe Sound. These closures help the threatened populations of these slow-growing fish and their habitats.

The Howe Sound Ocean Watch reports 2017 and 2020 provide the history, survey results, and recommendations.

Rockfish are extremely long-living with a maximum age measured in decades. They are slow to reach reproductive age. Yelloweye rockfish have been aged to over 100 years old and only reach sexual maturity at 22 years old. Without conservation measures, many of these species will be fished before having an opportunity to reproduce– meaning detectable recovery would not necessarily be expected in a few years or even a decade. While not Federally listed as Species at Risk (SARA), Yellow eye, Canary and Quillback are considered threatened by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada).

In support of the work to strengthen effective conservation measures in and around our glass sponge reef marine refuges and any further improvements to RCAs, we are collaborating with the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society, the Marine Stewardship Initiative and many others to ensure there continues to be an active and sustainable rockfish monitoring program for Átl'ka7tsem / Howe Sound.