Rockfish Monitoring
Summary
In support of the work to strengthen effective conservation measures in and around our glass sponge reef marine refuges and any further improvements to Rockfish Conservation Areas (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.
Monitoring of rockfish in Átl'ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound has been on pause since the last Annual Rockfish Abundance Surveys conducted by Oceanwise in 2020. We have kick-started these surveys again to ensure that further conservation measures to protect important habitats and threatened species are based on the most recent data.
The plan will be in two phases:
Phase 1
January through March 31, 2023, will include the development of survey protocols, selection of a limited number of sites and Rockfish ID training for volunteer divers.
Phase 2
April 2023 through March 2026 will continue with lD tTraining seminars, increase the number of sites (to be determined), and installation of environmental monitoring equipment as determined by scientific advisors and available external funding.
The Need
Rockfish are extremely long-living with a maximum age measured in decades. They are slow to reach reproductive age. Yelloweye rockfish have been aged at over 100 years old and only reach sexual maturity around 22 years old. Without conservation measures to limit or ban fishing, many of these species become overfished 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). These rockfish are one of the unique species that contribute to the biodiversity in the marine environment of the region.
Conservation measures put in place by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2007 resulted in specific RCAs and a ban on fishing for rockfish in Átl'ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound. These closures help the threatened populations of these slow-growing fish and their habitats. The Howe Sound Ocean Watch reports from 2017 and 2020 provide the history, survey results, and recommendations. Unfortunately, the program monitoring for rockfish has been on pause since 2020. Without proper monitoring, the effectiveness of conservation measures cannot be assessed. This project seeks to re-start the monitoring of this species to inform adaptive management of the measures in place.
The Marine Life Sanctuaries Society (MLSS) s an organization focused on marine conservation and educational outreach and has been directly involved in creating most local marine protections. MLSS has worked for many years advocating for the protection of rockfish and glass sponge reefs. The many relationships with divers, academia and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is key to furthering protections and reducing the loss of these species.
Project Objectives
The main objective of this project is to develop a plan for citizen science based marine monitoring program for Rockfish species in Howe Sound, including Yelloweye rockfish (COSEWIC Status: Threatened, SARA Status: Special Concern), Quillback rockfish (COSEWIC Status: Threatened) and Canary rockfish (COSEWIC Status: Threatened), that is recognized and supported by external science advisors and staff with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
To achieve this objective it will be necessary to to:
Develop survey protocols
Select appropriate sites to conduct monitoring
Train volunteers in rockfish identification
Carry out initial diving surveys with trained volunteers
Project Benefits
This program will serve to inform Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s assessment of updated Rockfish Conservation Areas and Marine Refuges, and has the potential to increase protection of these marine environments.
Location
This project is occurring throughout the whole Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere Region.
What Was Found?
Phase 1 results:
Divers documented 7 species of rockfish, including 2 of the species listed as Threatened by COSEWIC (Quillback and Yelloweye)
Illegal fishing was witnessed at every event held at a protected area during Phase 1 of this project, further illustrating the need for increased enforcement
People are willing to support a citizen-based project for rockfish as is demonstrated by the 651 volunteer hours that went into Phase 1
Funding approval was secured from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (at a reduced rate of 30% of the proposed budget)
Project Updates
Bio-dive at Whytecliff Park, hosted by Marine Life Sanctuaries Society.November 20, 2022. Photo MLSS
April 2024
With funding from HSBRIS, DFO, and BC Parks, MLSS was able to once again carry out rockfish monitoring in the region. During the winter, Washington State Young-of-the-Year Rockfish Monitoring Program researchers and key volunteer partners came to Howe Sound to help train volunteers in their methodology, and conduct a couple days of dive surveys.
This year saw 40 individual divers participating in 12 days of dive surveys, with 5 to 14 divers per dive day, each typically conducting 2 dives per day. There were a total of 947 volunteer hours!
Nine species of adult rockfish were documented by the volunteer teams: Copper, Quillback, Yellowtail, Puget Sound, Vermillion, Tiger, Yelloweye, Black and Deacon. Both Quillback Rockfish and Yelloweye Rockfish are currently COSEWIC Listed and under consideration for the Species at Risk Act. Sightings of 3 Deacon Rockfish at one site was also noteworthy as previous sightings of a single individual in both 2017 & 2018 were the first local observations in 27 years. Sightings of Black Rockfish over 4km north of where they were reintroduced by Vancouver Aquarium 20 years ago were also encouraging.
August 2023
We are in the early stages of Phase 2, including site selection for monitoring, coordination of more training opportunities, and development of survey materials.
April 2023
Phase 1 is now complete!
The first portion of this project concluded in late March 2023. This phase included volunteer training, dive surveys, as well as submission of funding request to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Project Team
Lead: Adam Taylor - Marine Life Sanctuaries Society
Contact: adamtaylor@mlssbc.com
Partners: Marine Life Sanctuaries Society, BC Parks, DFO
The Marine Life Sanctuaries Society (MLSS) is an organization focused on marine conservation and educational outreach and has been directly involved in creating most local marine protections. MLSS has worked for many years advocating for the protection of rockfish and glass sponge reefs. The many relationships with divers, academia and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is key to furthering protections and reducing the loss of these species.
Funding for these initial phases of the Rockfish Monitoring project is being provided Environment and Climate Change Canada.
With in-kind support from:
