SAVE
BOCACCIO ROCKFISH
THE
Bocaccio Rockfish Have The Power to Help Other Species Survive.
You Have The Power to Help Them Survive.
Bocaccio Are Vital Part of Northern Pacific Food Webs!
All rockfish species, including bocaccio, are a vital part of coastal food webs. Their ecological values play a very important role in the survival of multiple local species in the Puget Sound area. Bocaccio are a key part of the food web, acting as both predators and prey. Large ocean animals, such as the harbor, and northern elephant seals use bocaccio as a source of food. (Haida Gwali, 2006). Many humans eat the fish as well, demonstrating its instrumental value. If these fish go extinct, humans will never be able to consume them again. The species has bequest value since humans want future generations to reap the benefits of the fish.
Bocaccio control the populations of smaller ocean animals as well. Young larvae, sardines, and mackerel are all used as a source of food for the bocaccio. Bocaccio provide food for species in the food web, as well as stabilizing populations of many small animals in the web. (Haida Gwali, 2006). They also have intrinsic value. Their survival is important whether or not they affect other species or humans, solely because they are a part of our world ecosystem.
“Puget Sound Ocean, Various Species, Such as the Bocaccio, Inhabit this Area” (Symington, 2007)
Various Local Species Rely on Bocaccio to Support their Survival
“Female Northern Elephant Seal, Feeds on Bocaccio as a Source of Food” (Schulenburg, 2018)
“Young Mackerel Sardines, A Source of Food for Bocaccio” (Needpix.com, 2019)
Bocaccio Rockfish provide important ecosystem services to local species because their existence allows populations of other species within the ecosystem to stay stable. Species such as harbour and northern elephant seals are very dependent on fish such as bocaccio to support their survival. Bocaccio are a source of food for these seals, providing them with the nutrients and energy that help fuel their survival. (Haida Gwali, 2006). Small fish, such as larvae, euphausiids, and young rockfish are all a source of food for the bocaccio. Losing the bocaccio will result in a rise in numbers of small fish species, due to fewer species to maintain population control, and a decrease in numbers of certain seal species, because they would be losing a food source. The nutrients and energy that bocaccio cycle through the ecosystem are very beneficial and play a key role for species in the food web. Bocaccio are at large, and if they become extinct, they wouldn’t be the only species affected. Because of this, taking action to promote and continue rockfish recovery would benefit the entire ocean ecosystem.
Biodiversity Importance of Bocaccio
Their important role in the food web is vital to the survival of various species within the Puget Sound area. Bocaccio are responsible for controlling the populations of various species larvae, whom they consume, and being a source of food for larger animals, such as the northern elephant seal. The bocaccio play a key role because they are constantly cycling both energy and nutrients for various species around the Puget Sound food web. If the bocaccio were to see a decline in local species, various species that rely on their survival will begin to decrease as well. Bocaccio are also a very key species that are vital to the future sustainability of marine resources, including commercial fisheries. (Starfish Canada, 2016).
"Image courtesy of pxfuel.com"
Economic Importance
"Bocaccio Rockfish Vital to the Fishing Economy"
(Hedin, 2011)
Various species that were overfished for many years, the bocaccio included, is slowly starting to decrease the catch limits for these species. This is a major win for various fisheries that endured major cutbacks when various West Coast species were declared endangered and overfished. The National Marine Fisheries Service predicts that these new fishing changes could increase fisheries income up to $60 million in Washington, California, and Oregon, and generate hundreds of jobs as well. (Profita, 2018). Recent bocaccio trawling has been very beneficial to the industry, and at the same time having little harm on accidental bycatch of other species. As new stock assessments for several rockfish species were conducted in 2017, numbers were shown with an increase, which reduced fishing regulations on the trawling industry. A recent vessel fishing along the West Coast caught 3 million pounds of fish at a value of around $1.6 million, while only catching a total of 5 salmon as accidental bycatch. (Administrator, 2018). Recently, the bocaccio has proven to be very vital to the fishing industry, and has the potential to provide various jobs and bring in millions of dollars.
Losing rockfish in the Puget Sound area would shake UP an important established dynamic, not just affecting the animal world, but us humans too. The fishing economy is largely dependent upon the bocaccio. A species-wide extinction would result in a decline in various species, affecting outcomes and productivity of fishing within the Puget Sound area (Mohn, 2019).