Aquatic Species at Risk - Bocaccio

At a glance

One of the largest rockfish in the Pacific Ocean, bocaccio populations off the west coast of Vancouver Island may have declined by 95 percent between 1980 and 2000. In American waters to the south, populations appear to have declined even more—by 99 percent. Little is currently known about the reasons for this sharp decline in bocaccio numbers.

About the bocaccio

One of approximately 35 species of rockfish found in the waters off British Columbia, bocaccio are considered a semi-pelagic fish—that is, they prefer the upper layers of the open ocean. Young bocaccio grow rapidly in their first year, often reaching approximately 25 cm in length. The fish is thought to mature at four or five years of age, and to have a lifespan of approximately 40 years. Females are often larger than males. New hatchlings initially eat plankton such as copepods, before moving onto a diet of small crustaceans and fish. Adult bocaccio favour rockfish, but will also eat sablefish, anchovies, lantern fish and squid.

How to recognize a bocaccio

With its distinctive long jaw extending at least as far as its eye socket, adult bocaccio are easy to identify. The fish’s back ranges in colour from olive- to burnt-orange or brown when mature; its stomach is pink and red. Young bocaccio are light bronze and have small brown spots on their sides. Their colour darkens and the spots disappear as they mature. Typically up to 74 centimetres in length, female bocaccio have been known to grow up to 90 centimetres.

Mark Conlin

Where bocaccio live

Bocaccio are found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. In Canada the fish lives along the British Columbia coast, seeming to favour Queen Charlotte Sound and the northwest coast of Vancouver Island.

Why it’s at risk

Bocaccio are primarily at risk of being caught accidentally by commercial trawlers fishing for other species. A bocaccio’s swim bladder cannot accommodate the rapid change in pressure as it is brought to the surface, and most die. Other threats come from natural predators such as harbour seals and northern elephant seals. Young bocaccio are prey for seabirds.

What’s being done

The bocaccio is designated as threatened by COSEWIC and is under consideration for addition to the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The fish is also listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

DFO has worked closely with the commercial trawl fishery on voluntary measures which have successfully reduced the amount of bocaccio bycatch by 50 per cent. One hundred per cent of catches are monitored in the commercial trawl fishery by an at-sea observer program.

Proceeds from catching bocaccio are directed to research and management programs, thus removing the incentive to deliberately catch bocaccio. DFO will continue to work with the fishing industry to implement recovery measures as well as new scientific research to track the ongoing status of bocaccio.

In 2004, Fisheries and Oceans Canada worked with industry to develop a conservation program for bocaccio. This program is being implemented in the groundfish trawl fishery and includes the following measures:

• any proceeds from catching bocaccio must be directed to research and management programs, removing any incentive to deliberately catch bocaccio;
• observers will be on the boats at sea and there will be monitoring of catches when boats are landed at docks to assess the effectiveness of the disincentive to catch these fish;
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada is collaborating with the fishing industry on surveys and assessments to better improve our knowledge of the distribution and abundance of bocaccio and other Pacific groundfish.

What can you do?

Bocaccio will get the protection they need only if all Canadians work together to reduce threats. Find out more about bocaccio and be aware of man-made threats. Do your best to reduce these threats wherever possible to better protect the bocaccio’s critical habitat. Get involved with the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk (HSP) or another conservation organization.

Background information provided by Environment Canada in March 2004.