Acadian redfish

The Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus), also known as the Atlantic redfish, Acadian rockfish, or Labrador redfish, is a marine deep-water fish belonging to the family Sebastidae native to the northwestern Atlantic.[3][4][5]

Acadian redfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Sebastidae
Genus: Sebastes
Species:
S. fasciatus
Binomial name
Sebastes fasciatus

Description

The Acadian redfish is colored reddish-orange and can live up to 50 years or more[4][6] and reach lengths up to 20 in (508 mm).[6] It is very similar in appearance to the deepwater redfish Sebastes mentella. The two species can be distinguished by the number of soft rays in the anal fin, internal examination of the gas bladder, or by genetic testing.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The Acadian redfish is native to the waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and its range extends from Virginia, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, western Greenland and Iceland. It is found at depths varying between 70 and 500 m (230 and 1,640 ft).[2] It swims near the seabed in areas with clay-silt or rocky bottoms.[4]

Biology

The Acadian redfish feeds on a variety of crustaceans, mollusks, and smaller fish.[6] It spawns in the fall to late winter. The species is ovoviviparous, and females release 15,000–20,000 fully formed larvae into the water per season.[7] The Acadian redfish is preyed on by the halibut, the Atlantic cod, swordfishes and harbor seals.[2]

Conservation
Catch of Acadian redfish

Due to its slow growth rate, low fecundity, harmless nature, tendency to "hit almost any bait", and being considered a great food fish, the Acadian redfish was classified as Endangered by the IUCN in 1996.[1][4][6] However, due to conservation efforts, the redfish population has rebounded, and in 2012 the species was described as fully rebuilt, sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.[8]

References
  1. Sobel, J. (1996). "Sebastes fasciatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T20084A9144739. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T20084A9144739.en.
  2. Bailly, Nicolas (2013). "Sebastes fasciatus Storer, 1854". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  3. "Sebastes fasciatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
  4. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2008). "Sebastes fasciatus" in FishBase. August 2008 version.
  5. Acadian redfish NOAA FishWatch. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  6. Acadian redfish Archived September 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Maine Dept. of Marine Resources.
  7. Ralph K. Mayo, Jon K. T. Brodziak, John M. Burnett, Michele L. Traver, and Laurel A. Col, "The 2005 Assessment of Acadian Redfish, Sebastes fasciatus Storer, in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Region," Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 07-06, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (April, 2007).
  8. NOAA - FishWatch: Acadian Redfish, Retrieved 20 February 2013.
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