Brown Rockfish

Overview

Species Common Name Brown Rockfish
Species Scientific Name Sebastes auriculatus

Ecoregions

Nearshore

The Nearshore ecoregion includes a variety of habitats ranging from submerged high-relief rocky reefs to broad expanses of intertidal mudflats in estuaries and hosts a vast array of fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, birds, plants, and micro-organisms. This ecoregion encompasses the area from the outer boundary of Oregon’s Territorial Sea to the supra-tidal zone, and up into the estuaries.

Special needs

Rocky reefs.

Limiting factors

Periodic recruitment dependent on favorable conditions in a highly variable environment. Medium concern for vulnerability to potential overfishing based on productivity and susceptibility analysis.

Data gaps

Fishery-independent population monitoring. Larval dispersal patterns, habitat associations, and usage. Migration patterns. Genetic variation among stocks.

Conservation actions

Protect critical habitat. Manage for sustainable harvest. Gather information to fill data gaps.

Key reference or plan

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan

Life History Traits