Description

The Rockfish family comprise of a wide variety of species – though when cooked – it is difficult to differentiate between the varieties. In general - Rockfish living at deeper depths tend to be brighter in colour. Pacific Ocean Perch have a light red body and fins with dark-green blotches under their dorsal fin and on the caudal peduncle. This species grows to be about 4.4 pounds.

Habitat

Pacific Ocean Perch can be found along the continental shelf - most commonly at depths of 82 - 2,700 feet. Ocean Perch are found in the North Pacific Ocean - ranging from Southern California to the Bering Sea - as well as around the Pacific Rim to Northern Honshu, Japan. They are most abundant in northern British Columbia, the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.

Fishing Season

Sustainability Status

Rockfish are slow-growing and mature late in life. Consequently - many Rockfish are caught before they have had chance to reproduce and are therefore very vulnerable to overfishing. In 2002 - emergency fishery closures - both commercial and sport - were enacted along the west coast of North America in an effort to give Rockfish populations a chance to recover. Pacific Ocean Perch populations in Alaska are currently very healthy and are rebuilding to sustainable levels off the west coast of the United States.