NOAA Lists Georgia Basin Rockfish as Endangered Species

NOAA’s Fisheries Service Grants Federal Protection for Three Georgia Basin Rockfish Species

NOAA’s Fisheries Service has announced that it is listing three populations of rockfish in Washington’s Georgia Basin for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The populations of two of the rockfish species – canary and yelloweye – have been designated as “threatened” and a third rockfish species – bocaccio – as “endangered.” An endangered species is at high risk of extinction; a threatened species is vulnerable to extinction in the near future and in need of protection.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife prohibits fishermen from keeping any rockfish they may accidentally catch in the Puget Sound region. The state agency also forbids bottomfishing in waters deeper than 120 feet, where most of these adult rockfish are found.

For more information on the rockfish ESA listing, see:

http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Other-Marine-Species/Puget-Sound-Marine-Fishes/ESA-PS-Rockfish.cfm