Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops)

Scientific name: Sebastes melanops Girard, 1856

Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops)

The Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) is a marine fish of the family Sebastidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Paradise Cove, Baja California, Mexico.

Biology

Found near rocky reefs in shallow water and in open water over deep banks. Adults live both off and on bottom. Juveniles are pelagic. Form schools. Feed on fishes. Viviparous, with planktonic larvae. Young are important prey species for other fishes, marine mammals and birds. Excellent food fish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Sebastes melanops
Family
Sebastidae (Rockfishes, rockcods and thornyheads)
Order
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
63.0
Depth range
0–366 m (0–1201 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 366 m, usually 183 - 274 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Paradise Cove, Baja California, Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=7.5; K=0.14; tmax=50)

More other marine fish

See all other marine fish

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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