Scientific Name
Sebastes caurinus

Common Name
Copper rockfish

Biology
Particularly abundant in shallow, protected bays and inlets, among rocks and kelp beds; also found around pilings and jetties or under floats (Ref. 27436). Juveniles found in loose aggregations in shallow weedy bays, around wharfs, or among floating drift associated with summer tidelines (Ref. 27436). Mainly a benthic feeder, may also take pelagic fishes (Ref. 27436). Viviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36715). Flesh is tasty, firm and flaky (Ref. 27436). Sold mainly as fresh fillets or live in Chinese restaurants and fish markets; excellent for fish chips or for pan frying as fillets (Ref. 27436).

Classification

Classified By

Richardson, 1844

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads (Sebastidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Kenai Peninsula, Gulf of Alaska to central Baja California, Mexico. The darker reddish phase from California may be a separate species (Ref. 27437).

Range

60°N -

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

183 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 183 m (Ref. 2850)

Trophic Level

4.06 s.e. 0.70 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

58.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (58 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.12; tmax=55; tm=4; Fec=20,000)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated