(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - rockfish, brown
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthyes,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Scorpaeniformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Scorpaenidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Sebastes,
SPECIES AND SSP - auriculatus,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Sebastes auriculatus
AUTHORITY - Girard
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 208
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Sport Fish
Commercial
Commercial/consumption
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 208
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Brown rockfish were once caught incidentally by commercial fishermen,
usually in lobster traps or by salmon trollers. Recently, however, the
brown rockfish has become the most important commercial rockfish in San
Francisco Bay; it is used to supply restaurants and commands a high price.
Brown rockfish are also important in the summer sport fishery in kelp beds.
Most are caught from party boats or skiffs *208*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 208
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 208
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Estuarine
Estuarine
Marine
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 208
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Larvae and small juveniles are pelagic for periods of several months to a
year. Off California they are abundant and widely distributed in the
California Current. Juveniles occur in shallow nearshore waters, often
around piers and in bays. Use of estuaries as nursery grounds may be
unique. Adults occur in shallow water, bays and offshore to depths of 128
m, usually near bottom in rocky areas, associated with caves and crevices.
Off southern California, however, some frequent sewer outfalls. Older fish
seemingly move into deeper water. Only fish of 5 years or less occur in San
Francisco Bay; the older ones are offshore *208*.
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
copepods (3)
digenean (1)
monogeneans (2)
nematodes (2)
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 208
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Brown rockfish are known to be hosts of 3 copepods, 1 digenean, 2
monogeneans, and 2 nematodes *208*.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 208
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Polychaetes Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Fish Not Specified
General See Comments; Food Not Applicable
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 208
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
The diet of the brown rockfish consists of crabs and small fish, and shrimp,
isopods, and polychaetes. In Humboldt Bay, California, fish 141-300 mm long
ate 40% shrimp (by volume) and 33% crabs *208*.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Water Temperature: Between 21-27 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Between 15-21 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
G
G Substrate: Rocks
G Substrate: Specified in Comments
G Relation to Substrate: Specified in Comments
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Specified in Comments
G Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Specified in comments
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Estuarine habitat zone: bay
G Estuarine habitat zone: sound
G Estuarine habitat zone: offshore
G Estuarine habitat zone: specified in comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 208
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
Because brown rockfish occur in shallow water, they are exposed to a
relatively broad range of seasonal temperature variations, of at least 10
degrees C to 17 degrees C. Their capacity for acclimation is higher than
that of rockfishes living below the thermocline and they can tolerate
higher temperatures - at least 22 degrees C. Occurrence in estuaries and
oceanic waters suggest relatively broad salinity tolerance. The brown
rockfish occurs in bays and nearshore waters to depths of 128 m *208*.
Shelter is particularly important for brown rockfish, which are usually
associated with it. Brown rockfish are closely associated with rocky
substrates and kelp beds *208*.
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
MORPHOLOGY/IDENTIFICATION AIDS
Rockfishes off California are difficult to identify because about 60 similar
species occur there. The characters given here should be used with caution.
Many, if not all species of Sebastes are venomous. Poison glands are
associated with some or all of the spines of the first dorsal, anal, and
pelvic fins. The brown rockfish is one of the few species in which poison
glands are associated with all fin spines. The venom, although painful, is
not dangerous except when it provokes an allergic reaction or where the
injury becomes infected *208*.
The brown rockfish is distinguished from all other Sebastes occurring off
California in having a flat interorbital space, coronal spines in most
individuals (although not present in individuals from Puget Sound,
Washington), light brown body with darker brown mottling, pinkish caudal,
pelvic, and pectoral fin membranes, and a prominent dark brown blotch on the
gill cover. Dorsal fin XIII, 12-15; anal fin III, 5-8; pectoral fin 15-19;
gill raker teeth on first arch 25-30; lateral line pores 42-49 *208*.
SPAWNING
Larger females produce more offspring. All rockfishes have internal
fertilization and bear live young. The young receive substantial nourishment
from the mother, probably by the consumption and assimilation of ovarian
fluid. Females 311 mm in total length have about 52,000 eggs, and those 477
mm long have about 339,000 *208*.
LARVAL STAGE
Larvae and small juveniles are pelagic for periods of several months to a
year. Off California they are abundant and widely distributed in the
California Current. Brown rockfish larvae are 5-6 mm long at birth and are
easily distinquished *208*.
JUVENILES
Juveniles occur in shallow nearshore waters, often around piers and in bays.
Use of estuaries as nursery grounds may be unique. 37-50 mm long juveniles
have been reported hiding in crevices of artificial reefs in Santa Monica
Bay, California *208*.
ADULTS
Adults occur in shallow water, bays and offshore to depths of 128 m, usually
near bottom in rocky areas, associated with caves and crevices. Off
southern California, however, some frequent sewer outfalls. Older fish
seemingly move into deeper water. Only fish of 5 years or less occur in San
Francisco Bay; the older ones are offshore *208*.
MATURITY AND LIFE SPAN
Off central California, fish reach at least 19 years of age. Some males are
sexually mature at 3 years (260mm); all are mature at 10 years (380mm). In
Puget Sound, Washington, sexual maturity is reached by 225 mm *208*.
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: Grea
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 208
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Rockfish are caught commercially with trawls, gill nets and with
hook-and-line. They are also important in the summer sport fishery in kelp
beds. Most are caught from party boats or skiffs *208*.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species rockfish, brown
Species Id M010172
Date 26 AUG 96
References
208 * Stein, David, Thomas Hassler. 1989. Species Profiles: Life
Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and
Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest)--Brown Rockfish, Copper
Rockfish, and Black Rockfish. Fish and Wildlife Service Species
Profiles 82(11.113) (ed.):15.
References - 1