Species
19 finfish species |
 Rockfish, gopher (Sebastes carnatus);  Rockfish, black (S. melanops);  Rockfish, black-and-yellow (S. chrysomelas);  Rockfish, blue (S. mystinus);  Rockfish, kelp (S. atrovirens);  Rockfish, copper (S. caurinus);  Rockfish, grass (S. rastrelliger);  Rockfish, brown (S. auriculatus);  Rockfish, quillback (S. maliger);  Rockfish, china (S. nebulosus);  Rockfish, calico (S. dallii);  Treefish (S. serriceps);  Rockfish, olive (S. serranoides);  Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus);  California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher);  California scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata);  Kelp greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus);  Rock greenling (Hexagrammos lagocephalus);  Monkeyface prickleback (Cebidichthys violaceus)
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Life history (biology, habitat, range) |
Some species long-lived, late reproducers
Often associated with kelp forests, rocky reefs
See full life history descriptions in Appendix D of California Nearshore FMP: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/nfmp/pdfs/appendix_d.pdf
Also see Appendix B, Part 2 of Federal Groundfish FMP – Groundfish Life History Descriptions available:
http://www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/GF_FMP_App_B2.pdf |
Stock assessment status |
Black rockfish assessed 2003: healthy
CA sheephead assessed 2004: unresolved (data concerns)
Kelp greenling assessed 2005: not approved (data concerns)
Cabezon assessed 2005: healthy in North, precautionary in South
Gopher rockfish assessed 2005: very healthy
CA scorpionfish assessed 2005: very healthy
Blue rockfish assessed 2007: data poor; suggests precautionary |
Vulnerability |
Some species appear to be long-lived, late reproducers; stock status for most unknown; total recreational take considerable but exact amount unknown |
Protected/declared species interactions |
None known
Potential incidental catch of weak groundfish stocks |
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Gear types |
Trap and Hook and line; possibly some trawl outside state waters
Stick gear for live fish market |
Gear specifications |
Trap gear endorsement necessary for taking nearshore fish by trap (66 issued in 2006)
General trap permit conditions apply (e.g. marking buoy, destruct device to mitigate ghost fishing)
No more than 150 hooks per boat; no more than 15 hooks per line |
Associated conservation concerns |
Overfishing
Unknown impacts on kelp forest ecosystem
Weak stocks mixed with healthy or unassessed populations
Some bycatch but may be minimal with hook and line and trap |
Management, commercial |
Jurisdiction(s) |
State F&G Commission and Federal PFMC for 16 of 19 species |
FMP |
California State Nearshore Fishery Management Plan; PFMC Groundfish FMP |
FGC Code sections |
FGC §§ 8585-8589.7 and 14 CCR §§ 52, 180, and 150-150.17 |
TAC |
When FMP first came into force, all nearshore catch limits were based on half recent catch levels based on precautionary approach due to data-poor status; provisions are in place to allow transition to science-based catch limits as stock assessments are conducted and approved.
Commercial and recreational catch limits with bi-monthly trip limits set for state-managed species:
Cabezon – 152,100 lbs (39% commercial / 61% recreational)
CA Sheephead – 205,500 lbs (37% commercial / 63% recreational)
Greenlings – 37,600 lbs (9% commercial / 91% recreational)
Other species subject to federal OYs and trip limits
(see graphs below for finfish landings weight and revenue for 1997-2007) |
Restricted access |
RA first implemented in 1999 with 1184 permits
NFMP system began in 2003 with multiple classes of permits
Nearshore Fishery Permit (transferable) linked to one of four regions
Deeper Nearshore Fishery Permit (non-transferable)
Also trap endorsements and bycatch permits
Voluntary commercial logbook program
Fishery is still overcapitalized but commercial capacity has been drastically reduced
Statewide capacity goal for NFPs is 61 (current capacity is about double that – see participation below)
Beyond usual attrition mechanism, FMP specifies a two-for-one capacity reduction provision for nearshore permits
No capacity goal set for deeper nearshore |
Current seasons, size limits, other restrictions |
Season closed Mar-Apr
TAC in place for state-managed species (sheephead, cabezon, greenlings)
Bi-monthly trip limits (state and federal)
Minimum size limits for half of the nearshore species:
10” - black-and-yellow rockfish, CA scorpionfish, gopher rockfish, kelp rockfish
12” – grass rockfish, China rockfish, greenlings
13” – CA sheephead
15” – cabezon |
Fishery closures/ MPAs |
Recreational catch has exceeded catch limit often in recent years, shutting down fishery early
MLPA – 29 Central Coast network adopted; North Central region decision due soon
Federal Rockfish Conservation Areas |
Proposed regulations |
None formal – f/m in South Central interested in NFP permit stacking and some f/m statewide interested in making the deeper NFP transferable |
Recreational component |
53% of total catch in 1998; 69% of total catch in 2004 |
Which species |
All |
Gears fished |
Hook and line |
Regulations |
Various depending on state groundfish management area
May 2008 regulation restricting groundfish angling to waters less than 120’ depth in N California (north of Pigeon Point)
Generally bag limits for RCG (Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling) complex is 10 fish
CA sheep head – bag limit 5; min size 12”
Cabezon – bag limit 1; min size 15”
Greenlings – bag limit 2; min size 12”
CA Scorpionfish – bag limit 5: min size 10” |
RecFIN/ CRFS info |
1998 total recreational landings = 1.9 million lbs (53% total statewide annual landings)
2004 total recreational landings = 1.2 million lbs (69% total statewide annual landings) |
Social context |
Participation statewide |
185 nearshore permits; 239 deeper nearshore permits in 2007
2003-2006 average of 74% Shallow used; 71% Deeper used (CDFG June Council Agenda Item E.4.a.att2) |
Participation by area |
By Nearshore region, nearshore permits issued in 2007:
North – 26 where capacity goal is 14
N Central – 30 where capacity goal is 9
S Central – 64 where capacity goal is 20
South – 65 where capacity goal is 18 |
Fishing and trade organizations |
CA Lobster and Trap Association |
Seafood industry context |
Product forms |
Commercial live-market; processed |
Seafood selector status |
Rockfish by trawl is listed as poor choice |
MSC certification status |
N/A |
Potential for value added |
Live fish market potential likely improved with rationalized capacity and stable regulations |
Miscellaneous
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Sources |
DFG Marine Region Nearshore Fishery Management Plan. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/nfmp/index.asp Accessed May 2008.
DFG Marine Region 2006. NFMP Implementation Report. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/nfmp/pdfs/implementation0506.pdf
DFG Marine Region 2001. California’s Living Marine Resources: A Status Report. |
