Acadian Redfish (Atlantic population)
Sebastes fasciatus
No Status
NS |
Special Concern
SC |
Threatened
TH |
Endangered
EN |
Extirpated
EX |
SARA Status
- No Status NS
- Special Concern SC
- Threatened TH
- Endangered EN
- Extirpated EX
Not at Risk
NR |
Special Concern
SC |
Threatened
TH |
Endangered
EN |
Extirpated
EX |
COSEWIC Status
- Not at Risk NR
- Special Concern SC
- Threatened TH
- Endangered EN
- Extirpated EX
Description
Acadian Redfish range in colour from bright orange to red and have spiny rays. They are characterized by their protruding lower jaw, large eyes, and the bony spines that cover their gills. They reach sexual maturity very late, and abundant generations are only observed every 5 to 12 years. Distinctive characteristics of Redfish are their slow growth and long lifespan; they can live up to 75 years.
Habitat
Acadian Redfish are almost exclusively found within Canadian Atlantic waters. They live primarily along continental slopes and in deep channels, from 150 to 300 metres. There are two Acadian Redfish populations: Atlantic and Bonne Bay. Acadian Redfish from the Atlantic population can be observed as far as Baffin Island.
Acadian Redfish are ovoviviparous, meaning that females keep their fertilized eggs inside their bodies until the larvae have hatched. Larvae prefer surface waters, where they feed on copepods and fish eggs, while adults live in cold, deep waters where they prey upon other fish.
Threats
Fishing and bycatch in other fisheries such as the Northern Shrimp fishery are the main threats to the survival and recovery of this population. It is estimated that the Atlantic population of Acadian Redfish has declined 99% in abundance since the late 1970s, except on the Scotian Shelf where it seems to have remained stable. The commercial Redfish fishery is prohibited in some areas of this population’s distribution, but is allowed in some sectors.
Further Information
The Atlantic population of the Acadian Redfish has been designated as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Public consultations regarding the addition of this population to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk were held from November 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014. The Governor-in-Council's listing recommendation will published in the Canada Gazette Part I (Government of Canada newspaper where laws and regulations are published).
Visit the Species at Risk (SARA) Public Registry.
Commercial fisheries
- Multi-year management plans
- Notices, variations and decisions
- Stock status reports and research documents
- Statistics and reports
- Maps
- Consultations
- Contacts
Research Documents
- Proceedings of the Pacific regional peer review on the stock assessment for the outside population of Yelloweye Rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) for British Columbia, Canada in 2014; September 15, 16, and 24, 2015 (CSAS Pro - 2016/041)
- Proceedings of the Pacific Regional Peer Review on Redbanded Rockfish (Sebastes babcocki) Stock Assessment for the Pacific Coast of Canada in 2014; December 9, 2014 (CSAS pro - 2015/032)
- An updated production model fitting for redfish (Sebastes fasciatus and Sebastes mentella) in Units 1 and 2 (CSAS ResDocs - 2016/084)
- Stock assessment for Silvergray Rockfish (Sebastes brevispinis) along the Pacific coast of Canada (CSAS ResDocs - 2016/042)
- Stock Assessment for the Outside population of Yelloweye Rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) for British Columbia, Canada in 2014 (CSAS sar - 2015/060)
- Deepwater Redfish (Sebastes mentella) in NAFO subarea 0: addendum to the recovery potential assessment of Redfish in the northwest Atlantic (CSAS ScR - 2013/026)
- COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Deepwater Redfish/Acadian Redfish complex Sebastes mentella and Sebastes fasciatus in Canada (2010)
- Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) publications
Acadian Redfish (Atlantic population)

Photo credit: DFO: R. Larocque

This map shows the location of the Atlantic population of Acadian Redfish. This population is found along most of Canada’s Atlantic coast, from Baffin Island to the Scotian Shelf, as well as in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Did You Know?
Acadian Redfish are ovoviviparous, meaning that females keep their fertilized eggs inside their bodies until the larvae have hatched.
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