Kelp Fish Community - Pacific Rim

This program focuses on capturing the abundance and structure of groundfish communities typical of nearshore kelp forests including Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops), Copper Rockfish (Sebastes caurinus), Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus) and Sea Perch: Kelp Perch (Brachyistius frenatus), Pile Perch (Rhacochilus vacca) and Striped Perch (Embiotoca lateralis) combined. Surveys were completed annually in August and September at sites within the Broken Group Islands and consisted of a transect through a kelp forest patch at approximately 10m depth. Surveys began in 2008 and changed methodology in 2013 from a 2 diver survey (2 surveyors along a 25m long by 4m wide band transect) to a 1 diver survey (1 diver along a 30m long by 2 m wide band transect). This data is used to determine the status and trend in kelp-forest associated fish, including fish abundance and the effectiveness of the Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) on fish abundance. Core areas of the Broken Group Islands have been designated as no angling zones, RCAs, and these are surrounded by a voluntary no-take zone. Therefore, the status of groundfish abundance, size, and distribution in relation to recreational anglers and commercially guided fishing pressures is an important fisheries management consideration for the region.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada

Last modified: 2024-12-09T17:02:45.672495