NOAA rockfish recovery management and research in the Salish Sea, Washington

Rockfish are a long-lived species group that provide an important function for the food web dynamics in the Salish Sea, as both a mid-level trophic predator and important prey source, and they hold cultural significance to the region. Rockfish are comprised of over 25 different species locally, and over 60 species from California to Alaska. Many species experienced declines since the 1980’s, and two species are listed in the Salish Sea under ESA as threatened (yelloweye) or endangered (Bocaccio). Different species occupy a range of habitat types, from deep-water rock piles and hard bottom substrate, to nearshore kelp forests and eelgrass beds. As individuals grow their habitat associations change, such that protection and conservation efforts require a broad understanding of individual species and life history needs. State and federal agencies have conducted monitoring surveys for decades, and recovery efforts are currently being developed to improve habitats and resources for rockfish. A majority of research has focused on sub-adult and adult rockfish, but recent efforts study the distribution, settlement, and habitat use of young-of-the-year (YOY) and juvenile rockfish. Due to the paucity of government resources, the contributions of citizen scientists are expected to play a valuable role. Our session will include a review of survey methods and techniques that target a suite of rockfish species, habitats, and life history stages. The objective is to bring together researchers from the US and Canada in an effort to connect resources and discuss opportunities for collaborative projects for recovery of these iconic species. Topics include methods and challenges to surveying benthic and midwater rockfish species, YOY volunteer monitoring and data analysis, kelp habitat recovery, and policy and management

ESA-listed Puget Sound rockfish: How did we get here and how do we assess progress towards recovery planning goals?

In Puget Sound, WA, rockfish abundance declined significantly over the last 50+ years as a result of fishing pressure, life-history characteristics and the isolated geography of Puget Sound. In 2010, three species of rockfish were listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish and bocaccio. Due to a general lack of data specific to these three species, data from other rockfish species were used to support the listings. Since the listings, targeted research and recovery planning has begun to address major data gaps for these three species. First, cooperative research with the recreational fishing community has revealed that yelloweye rockfish are genetically distinct from coastal populations, whereas canary rockfish are not distinct - which has led to canary rockfish being delisted, the first delisting of a marine fish. Second, an ROV survey has been designed specifically to provide a path forward to estimate changes in abundance of listed rockfish in Puget Sound. Third, the Rockfish Recovery Plan for yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio has been published. This plan provides, and we have begun to address, a list of research activities related to environmental conditions and human activities that might constrain rockfish recovery. Two ongoing studies examine whether specific environmental covariates (e.g. dissolved oxygen) alter the movement and foraging behavior of yelloweye rockfish and whether rockfish bycatch can be reduced in the recreational lingcod fishery by using specific bait types. Finally, we will discuss the criteria to be used for delisting these species under the ESA, including statistical methods and operational challenges