Aquatic Species at Risk – Quillback Rockfish

Description
Habitat
Threats
Further Information
Scientific Information

Description

The Quillback rockfish is one of more than 35 species of rockfish occurring in the coastal waters of British Columbia.  Adult Quillback rockfish are primarily brown with yellow to orange anterior blotches, and light coloured dorsal saddle patches that extend into the first dorsal fin.  Their heads may be speckled with orange and brown dots, which extend ventrally to just past the pectoral fins. On average, females tend to be larger and older than males and can reach a maximum length of 50 cm.  Quillback rockfish are viviparous, which means they fertilize their eggs internally and release live offspring.  Mating occurs in December and release of larvae occurs between March and July.  Quillback rockfish have been aged up to 95 years in British Columbia.

Quillback rockfish.
Photo Credit: © Neil McDaniel

Habitat

Quillback rockfish are found coast wide in British Columbia. They have been observed in depths from 16m to 182m over substrates that are hard, complex and include surface features such as broken rock, rock reefs, ridges and crevices.  Juvenile rockfish typically settle around near-shore hard bottom habitats at shallower depths.

Threats

Fishing is the principle known threat to Quillback rockfish in British Columbia. Other factors that make this species vulnerable to human activities include:

• Late maturation
• Slow growth
• Periodic strong recruitment (i.e. introduction of young fish into the fishery) dependent on favourable environmental factors.

The species is particularly vulnerable to commercial and recreational fishing because of its inshore habitat and high desirability, including the potential to supply live specimens to markets.

Further Information

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has implemented strong management measures for the groundfish fishery in British Columbia, including 100% at-sea and dockside monitoring, significant reductions in commercial Total Allowable Catch (TAC), recreational bag limit reductions and designation of 164 Rockfish Conservation Areas protecting 20-30% of rockfish habitat coastwide.

Scientific Information:

Scientific name: Sebastes maliger
SARA Status: Under consideration
COSEWIC Status: Threatened (November 2009)