Distribution, Habitat, and Behavior of Rockfishes, Sebastes spp., in Nearshore Waters of Southeastern Alaska: Observations From a Remotely Operated Vehicle

We examined distribution, habitat, and behavior of rockfishes, Sebastes spp., with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in coastal waters 75%) observations of rockfish were over complex bottoms of boulder and rock or in vertical bedrock wall habitats. Few rockfish were observed over soft bottoms with no relief. Median depth of observation was ≤30 m for black, copper, dusky, and yellowtail rockfish and >30 m for all other species. Median temperature of observation ranged from 6.1°C for harlequin rockfish to 9.4°C for black rockfish. Size of fish was positively correlated (p ≤ 0.036) with depth for dusky, quillback, and yelloweye rockfish. Species often observed alone were China (67%), copper (46%), quillback (46%), and rosethorn (43%) rockfish. Most (≥70%) observations of harlequin, Puget Sound, silvergray, tiger, and yelloweye rockfish were in mixed species assemblages. When first observed, the behavior of most rockfish species was swimming or hovering. Notable exceptions were China, harlequin, rosethorn, and tiger rockfish; 33–57% were resting on bottom or in a hole or crevice.