Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
Recovering yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio in the Salish Sea: a collaborative, long-term, multi-pronged approach Yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio occupying the Salish Sea have been listed under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 2010, yelloweye as Threatened and bocaccio as Endangered. In 2017, NOAA Fisheries completed a recovery plan for both species, outlining critical data needs and collaborative policy actions to further recovery. In 2020, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the inside waters (i.e., Salish Sea) population of yelloweye as Threatened, a change from the Special Concern status conferred in 2008. Here, I briefly describe several dedicated, collaborative field and laboratory studies on both sides of the international border since 2017; outline remaining data gaps and research opportunities; highlight creation of the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan as a tool for assessing rockfish habitat; and describe targeted outreach and engagement activities, including creation of a children’s book on rockfish biology and conservation. While environmental degradation from a suite of broad-scale forcing factors continues to threaten these species, systematic implementation of strategic recovery plans has bolstered understanding of species biology and ecological role, informing proactive management and stakeholder engagement. Continued, cooperative effort to fill information gaps and methodically address threats at both the species and ecosystem level is required to ensure recovery goals are met.
Session Title
Groundfish
Conference Track
SSE4: Fish Science and Policy
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-106
Start Date
26-4-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2022 3:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Yelloweye rockfish--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Bocaccio--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); ; Wildlife conservation--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Recovering yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio in the Salish Sea: a collaborative, long-term, multi-pronged approach
Recovering yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio in the Salish Sea: a collaborative, long-term, multi-pronged approach Yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio occupying the Salish Sea have been listed under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 2010, yelloweye as Threatened and bocaccio as Endangered. In 2017, NOAA Fisheries completed a recovery plan for both species, outlining critical data needs and collaborative policy actions to further recovery. In 2020, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the inside waters (i.e., Salish Sea) population of yelloweye as Threatened, a change from the Special Concern status conferred in 2008. Here, I briefly describe several dedicated, collaborative field and laboratory studies on both sides of the international border since 2017; outline remaining data gaps and research opportunities; highlight creation of the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan as a tool for assessing rockfish habitat; and describe targeted outreach and engagement activities, including creation of a children’s book on rockfish biology and conservation. While environmental degradation from a suite of broad-scale forcing factors continues to threaten these species, systematic implementation of strategic recovery plans has bolstered understanding of species biology and ecological role, informing proactive management and stakeholder engagement. Continued, cooperative effort to fill information gaps and methodically address threats at both the species and ecosystem level is required to ensure recovery goals are met.
