Deepwater Redfish (Gulf of St. Lawrence and Laurentian Channel population)

Sebastes mentella

SARA Status
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

COSEWIC Status
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

Deepwater 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

Deepwater Redfish are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. They live primarily along continental slopes and in deep channels, from 350 to 500 metres. In Canadian waters, there are two Deepwater Redfish populations: Northern, and Gulf of St. Lawrence and Laurentian Channel. The latter population can be observed as far as the Scotian Shelf.

Deepwater 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

The directed fishery is still the main threat to the survival and recovery of this population, except in the Gulf of St. Lawrence where it is prohibited since 1995. It is estimated that the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Laurentian Channel population of Deepwater Redfish has declined in abundance by 97% since 1984. Deepwater Redfish are also caught as bycatch in other fisheries, such as the Northern Shrimp fishery.

Further Information

The Gulf of St. Lawrence and Laurentian Channel population of Deepwater 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) and on the Species at Risk Public Registry.