They are prized by recreational anglers and commercial fishermen alike. Rockfish are a crucial part of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Their local name comes from their habit of hiding among oyster reefs and rocks, where they feed on smaller fish, such as bay anchovies or menhaden and crustaceans like juvenile crabs and shrimp.
They are also a big economic driver in Chesapeake Bay communities, where they are the focus of popular fishing tournaments, recreational fishing charters, and commercial fisheries.
The most recent data show worrisome trends for rockfish. A striped bass scientific stock assessment, released in by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, found rockfish are overfished and the population is well below sustainable levels. There has been below-average spawning activity in the Chesapeake Bay in the past two years, and the number of large, female fish has been declining for over a decade.
These indicators underscore the need to take bold action in order to rebuild the population to levels observed in the early s. Rockfish are often seen as a great fisheries management success story in the Chesapeake Bay. Populations plummeted in the s and early s due primarily to overfishing. But by , they had rebounded to historic levels thanks to intensive conservation efforts that included restocking programs, a harvest moratorium in Maryland and Virginia, and rigorous interstate management plans that have continue to include specified seasons and size restrictions.
Overfishing is a major problem facing rockfish, but it is not the only problem. In addition to overfishing, rockfish face threats from:. Bold action is needed by fishery managers in order to adjust current management strategies to avoid repeating the major declines in striped bass populations experienced during the s and 80s.
First, it began efforts to reduce overfishing by requiring states to adopt new regulations that would result in an 18 percent reduction in rockfish removals. While these measures are important, it is up to Maryland and Virginia to implement management actions that effectively limit rockfish mortality and improve their habitat, thereby providing the best conditions to get rockfish populations back on the right track.
CBF has advocated for years for science-based fishery management that takes the functioning of the Bay ecosystem into account. In , after decades of work by CBF and partners, the ASMFC took an important step to help rockfish by increasing protections for one of their primary food sources: Atlantic menhaden.
ASMFC adopted what are known as ecological reference points to help determine how many menhaden can be harvested while still leaving enough food for rockfish and other fish and wildlife. Ecological reference points use scientific models to reflect how changes in the menhaden population affect populations of the fish that eat it—allowing fishery managers to quantitatively say how many menhaden are needed to feed and sustain our desired populations of those predator species.
The ecological reference points adopted by ASMFC specifically focus on keeping enough menhaden in the Bay to sustain rockfish populations. Of all the predator species studied, rockfish was shown to be the most sensitive to changes in the menhaden population.
Therefore, adopting ecological reference points that protect rockfish will also protect other predator species. This important action will not recover the rockfish population on its own, but it will help ensure the rockfish in the Bay have enough to eat. Other critical work includes:. There are many ways you can help us restore rockfish populations and improve water quality in the Bay.
Use safe fish handling practices. Rockfish are only found in Maryland waters. The stripes on a Rockfish run from head to tail whereas on a Striped Bass the stripes run from their tail to their head.
Same fish. Is Rockfish high in mercury? Plus, fish is typically low in fat, making it even more appealing to consumers, but according to the Environmental Defense Fund, rockfish contains moderate levels of mercury. There is no need to eat fish daily, which can cause mercury levels to exceed safe levels and lead to mercury poisoning.
Is Rockfish similar to tilapia? Rockfish is a fantastic alternative to tilapia. Rockfish meat is also much firmer than the other fish but just as flaky as Pacific Cod. Is Rockfish any good? An average serving of rockfish has nearly 33 grams of protein, and it's also full of omega-3 fatty acids those brain-boosting, healthy fats. Plus rockfish is an excellent source of vitamin D and potassium, making it a nutrient-rich dish that tastes good and that you can feel good about eating.
How do you know when rockfish is done? Here's how to tell if fish is done: poke the tines of a fork into the thickest portion of the fish at a degree angle. Then gently twist the fork and pull up some of the fish. Undercooked fish resists flaking and is translucent. If your fish is undercooked, just continue heating it until it is done. Does rockfish taste fishy? Fresh fish should taste and smell that way: fresh, briny and sweet, not musty, yeasty, bitter or fishy.
The texture should be resilient, firm and smooth. The signs of freshness in both round-bodied fish such as rockfish or salmon and flatfish such as halibut or flounder are the same. What's the difference between rockfish and red snapper? Knauss legislative fellowships in Congress help build careers — and they're fun and educational.
See our video and fact sheet for details. Maryland Sea Grant has program development funds for start-up efforts or strategic support for emerging areas of research. Apply here. A century ago, Smithville had more than residents. Today, it has four, in two homes: an elderly couple, and one elderly woman and her son, who cares for her.
Shivish Bhandari is a graduate student in the Bioenvironmental Science Ph. Outside of his studies, Shivish enjoys traveling, bird watching, and photography. Though fish populations typical experience spatially varying mortality, abundance, and fishing pressure, stock assessments commonly model a population that is assumed to be well-mixed.
When assumptions about population mixing are not met, these models can result in biased estimates.
0コメント