Life history traits of the greenstriped rockfish, Sebastes elongatus

The life history traits of the greenstriped rockfish, Sebastes elongatus, a common scorpaenid inhabiting the west coast of North America from near Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico to near Chirikof Island,Alaska, USA at depths ranging from 12 to 491 m, are described. Maximum observed size was 430 mm fork length (FL) and 980 g. There is strong sexual dimorphism, with females reaching larger sizes. Age composition and growth were estimated from sectioned sagittal otoliths of 465 fish collected in 1995. Ages ranged from 2 to 46 years. Growth was slow and was best described by the von Bertalanffy growth model. A total of 123 gonads was collected throughout 1995. Greenstriped rockfish are viviparous, reproduce annually, and are determinate spawners. There is a delay between copulation and ova fertilization, during which time sperm is stored in the inter-lamellar tissues of a mature ovary. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) peaked in December for males and in May for females. Parturition occurs in June. The length at 50% maturity was 230 mm FL for males and 210 mm FL for females. The rate of natural mortality (M) was estimated to be 0.09 using the maximum age method and 0.15 using the catch curve and GSI methods.