(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - rockfish, yelloweye
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - ,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - ,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - ,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - ,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Sebastes,
SPECIES AND SSP - ruberrimus,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Sebastes ruberrimus
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 232
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Commercial/consumption
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 232
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Yelloweye rockfish is sought out by shallow-water bottomfish fishermen in
Southeast Alaska and represents at least 50 % of the commercial landings of
that group. They also were important in a limited 1980-1981 rockfish
fishery in the outer Cook Inlet District in Southcentral Alaska, making up
approximately 15 % of that catch by number *232*.
Stocks of yelloweye rockfish within the 3-mi limit are managed by the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game *232*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - MARINE
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 232
LAND USE -
Water
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 232
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 232
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Yelloweye rockfish are found in nearshore and offshore areas of Southcentral
and Southeast Alaska *232*.
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Rockfish
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 232
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
A study noted extensive overlaps in the diets of many nearshore rockfish,
indicating a potential for competition among these species. Yelloweye
larvae and young are undoubtedly eaten by other rockfish. Small yelloweye
rockfish have been found in the stomachs of larger yelloweyes *232*.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 232
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Osteichthyes Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Malacostraca Not Specified
General Molluscs Not Specified
General Snails Not Specified
General Gadiformes Not Specified
General Perciformes Not Specified
General Clupeiformes Not Specified
General Perciformes Not Specified
General See Comments; Food See Comments
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 232
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Yelloweye rockfish are opportunistic feeders, consuming a variety of
organisms, including fish, rock crabs, lithodid crabs, caridean shrimps, and
gastropod snails. Fish consumed include cods (Gadidae), sand lances
(Ammodytes hexapterus), herring (Clupea harengus pallasi), lumpsuckers
(Cyclopteridae), and other rockfishes, especially Puget Sound rockfish
(Sebastes emphaeus), and including young yelloweye rockfishes *232*.
Types of Feeding Areas Used: Yelloweye rockfish presumably feed in rocky
areas, where they are usually found *232*.
Factors Limiting Availability of Food: A study noted extensive overlaps in
the diets of many nearshore rockfish, indicating a potential for competition
among these species *232*.
Feeding Behavior: Yelloweye rockfish have been observed to capture prey
with rapid bursts of speed *232*.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
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 Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Water Depth Preference: 50-100 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 100-200 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 200-500 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 1000-1500 ft.
G Coastal Features: Reefs
G Coastal Features: Specified in Comments
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Boulders
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Specified in Comments
FA Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Specified in Comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 232
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 232
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
Yelloweye rockfish are found in the commercial rockfish catch in Southeast
Alaska at depths from 20 to 130 m, with the greatest number found at depths
from 75 to 130 m. Yelloweye rockfish are found in depths up to 365 m.
Yelloweye size increases with depth. They are found around steep cliffs,
rocky reefs, offshore pinnacles, and boulder fields *232*.
COMMENTS ON FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONTAL ASSOC_ -
Yelloweye rockfish presumably feed in rocky areas, where they are usually
found *232*.
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Reproductive Habitat: Spawning habitat for yelloweye rockfish has not been
described; however, rockfish (including yelloweye) appear to move to deeper
waters (246 m) when they reach maturity *232*.
Reproductive Seasonality: Rockfish are ovoviparous, meaning they are
internally fertilized and release live young. Female yelloweye rockfish in
lower Cook Inlet in early June contained larvae still in early stages of
development. Females with preextrusion larvae in the northeastern Gulf of
Alaska were found in late June and July. Females release larvae in June,
July, and August in Southeast Alaska and mating apparently takes place in
late fall or early winter *232*.
Reproductive Behavior: Breeding of yelloweye rockfish has not been
observed; however, male blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) off the coast of
California have been observed to follow a sequence of stereotyped courtship
movements. It is possible that other rockfish, including yelloweye, have
similar breeding behavior *232*.
Age at Sexual Maturity: Yelloweye rockfish are late maturing. females in
Southeast Alaska reach 50 % sexual maturity at 50 to 52 cm; males reach 50 %
sexual maturity at 52 to 60 cm. Aging techniques, which involve reading
growth lines on the surface of yelloweye otoliths, indicate that these
lengths correspond to an age of 14 to 15 years for females and 16 to 19
years for males. The aging technique of breaking otolith and burning the
inside surface to accentuate the growth lines generally has produced older
age estimates *232*.
Frequency of Breeding: Yelloweye rockfish breed annually *232*.
Fecundity: The fecundity of an 8.9 kg yelloweye rockfish was 2.700,000
*232*.
Incubation Period: Breeding takes place in winter months and that young are
released in June, July, and August *232*.
Movements Associated with Life Functions: The average length of yelloweye
rockfish in the commercial catch increases with depth. This indicates that
yelloweye move to progressivley deeper areas as they grow. Yellowtail and
dusky rockfish (Sebastes flavidus and S. ciliatus) near Auke Bay, Alaska,
have been reported to move into crevices and sheltered areas in
November-April, possibly in response to a drop in water temperature. Canary
and rosethorn rockfish (Sebastes pinniger and S. helvomaculatus) increased
in relative abundance in the winter commercial horizontal longline catch, as
compared to summer. This may be due to a shift to a more bottom-dwelling
existence by these normally pelagic species. In contrast, the relative
abundance of yelloweye rockfish in the commercial catch decreased in the
winter *232*.
Natural Factors Influencing Populations: Yelloweye larvae and young are
undoubtedly eaten by other rockfish. Small yelloweye rockfish have been
found in the stomachs of larger yelloweyes *232*.
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
Date 26 AUG 96
Human-related Factors Influencing Populations: A summary of possible
impacts from human-related activities includes: alteration of preferred
water temperatures, pH, dissolved oxygen, and chemical composition;
introduction of water-soluble substances; increase in suspended organic or
mineral material; reduction in food supply; human harvest; and seismic shock
waves *232*.
The yelloweye rockfish is a solitary, demersal species found in relatively
deep areas and is one of the longest-lived species. Larger yelloweye
rockfish may exceed 80 to 90 years. It matures later than most species and
reaches a larger size *232*.
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Dispersion: Other (specify in comments)
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Number of Broods/Litters (Reproductive Efforts) Per Ye
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: Grea
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 232
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Developing/maintaining suitable salinity
Beneficial Developing/maintaining suitable pH
Adverse Salinity alteration
Beneficial Regulating harvest of species being described
Adverse Underwater explosions
Beneficial Other management practices [specified in comments]
Adverse Other management practices [specified in comments]
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 232
REFERENCES FOR ADVERSE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 232
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Human-related Factors Influencing Populations: A summary of possible
impacts from human-related activities includes: alteration of preferred
water temperatures, pH, dissolved oxygen, and chemical composition;
introduction of water-soluble substances; increase in suspended organic or
mineral material; reduction in food supply; human harvest; and seismic shock
waves *232*.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species rockfish, yelloweye
Species Id M010173
Date 26 AUG 96
References
232 * State of Alaska Department of Fish, and Game. 1986. Alaska
Habitat Management Guide: Life Histories and Habitat
Requirements of Fish and Wildlife. (ed.). Alaska Department of
Fish and Game Juneau, Alaska:763.
References - 1