Ecological Insights and Fish Population Trends from the

California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program

1. Conduct scientifically sound research to better inform resource

managers

2. Collaborate with local fishing communities to collect data about

nearshore fish assemblages

3. Provide rigorous baseline and monitoring data for the evaluation of

marine protected area (MPA) performance

4. Better understand nearshore fish stocks and ecosystems

5. Educate the general public about marine fisheries, conservation,

stewardship and research

6. Test data-poor fishery models that use differences between

MPA and reference (REF) sites to set fisheries control rules

Richard M. Starr 1,3, Dean E. Wendt 2, Cheryl L. Barnes 1,3, and Corina I. Marks1* 1 Moss Landing Marine Laboratories 2 CalPoly San Luis Obispo 3California Sea Grant * presenting author

Objectives

From 2007 to 2013, CCFRP scientists worked with volunteer anglers to

collect fisheries-independent data onboard charter boats off of central

California (Photos 1 through 4). To gather information on species

compositions, lengths, and catch rates of nearshore fishes in and

around local MPAs, we have:

- Conducted 244 days of standardized hook-and-line surveys

- Utilized over 6,813 volunteer hours from 717 different anglers

- Worked aboard 12 fishing vessels with 20 different skippers

- Caught and released 46,855 fishes, of which 33,418 were tagged

- Collected data from 48 species

Methods

Acknowledgements

4

For more information and project updates, like us on facebook or visit us at http://seagrant.mlml.calstate.edu/research/ccfrp/

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Point BuchonPiedras Blancas

Point LobosAño Nuevo

REFMPA

All Species Combined

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Results & Conclusions 2007-2013

• Greater than 50% of the catch at Año

Nuevo was comprised of Black and

Blue Rockfish.

• Greater than 50% of the catch at Point

Lobos, Piedras Blancas, and Point

Buchon was comprised of Blue and

Gopher Rockfish.

Relationships of catch rates inside & outside MPAs are used to determine whether there are MPA

effects as well as changes in oceanographic conditions in the region.

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REFMPA

Blue Rockfish

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REFMPA

Blue Rockfish

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Blue Rockfish

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Copper Rockfish

Page 1

Point Lobos

Blue Rockfish Sebastes mystinus

This project has been made possible by funding and/or support by California Sea

Grant, the Ocean Protection Council, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, Santa Monica Seafood’s Responsible Sourcing Vendor Partner

Program, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the captains and crews of

F/Vs Admiral, Caroline, Chubasco, Fiesta, Huli Cat, New Captain Pete, Pacific

Horizon, Patriot, Princess, Queen of Hearts, Rita G, Salty Lady, and Tigerfish, as well

as our many volunteers.

Photo 1. Science crew and volunteer

angler with a Vermilion Rockfish caught

offshore from Año Nuevo.

Photo 4. Volunteer angler

using standardized fishing gear

to catch nearshore species at

Point Lobos.

Photo 3. Science crew tagging an Olive Rockfish and

recording the species, length, physical condition, and

the latitude and longitude of where the fish was caught.

Inset: Tagged Canary Rockfish.

★ p < 0.05 (MPA greater catch)

★★ p < 0.001 (MPA greater catch)

✪ p < 0.05 (REF greater catch)

✪✪ p < 0.001 (REF greater catch)

Species compositions differed among central California MPAs.

Catch was higher for many species inside

MPAs as compared to reference sites.

Proportion of Individuals Length at 50% Maturity

1.00.80.60.40.20.00

Black Rockfish

Blue Rockfish

Canary Rockfish

China Rockfish

Copper Rockfish

Gopher Rockfish

Kelp Rockfish

Lingcod

Olive Rockfish

Vermilion Rockfish

Yellowtail Rockfish

All Years (2007 to 2013) Combined

MPAREF

Page 1

Proportion of Individuals Length at 50% Maturity

1.00.80.60.40.20.00

Black Rockfish

Blue Rockfish

Canary Rockfish

China Rockfish

Copper Rockfish

Gopher Rockfish

Kelp Rockfish

Lingcod

Olive Rockfish

Vermilion Rockfish

Yellowtail Rockfish

All Years (2007 to 2013) Combined

MPAREF

Page 1

Proportion of Individuals Length at 50% Maturity

1.00.80.60.40.20.00

Black Rockfish

Blue Rockfish

Canary Rockfish

China Rockfish

Copper Rockfish

Gopher Rockfish

Kelp Rockfish

Lingcod

Olive Rockfish

Vermilion Rockfish

Yellowtail Rockfish

All Years (2007 to 2013) Combined

MPAREF

Page 1

MPA

REF

Mea

n Le

ngth

(cm

)

60

40

20

0Yellowtail Rockfish

Vermilion Rockfish

Olive Rockfish

LingcodKelp Rockfish

Gopher Rockfish

Copper Rockfish

China Rockfish

Canary Rockfish

Blue Rockfish

Black Rockfish

Reference Site Point Lobos Ecologial Reserve (est 1973)

Page 1

A larger proportion of mature Blue, Copper, Olive, & Vermilion Rockfish as well as Lingcod were

caught inside MPAs

Changes in catch rates over time, all species combined

Because the decrease in relative

abundance inside and outside the

MPA track each other, we can

hypothesize that overall

environmental conditions (e.g. food

availability) influenced Blue Rockfish

in the region of Point Lobos.

A wooden v-board is used to measure all fishes to the

nearest centimeter.

Piedras Blancas

n = 8,796

n = 9,233

Point Buchon

n = 13,891

Point Lobos Monterey

Santa Cruz

Morro

Bay

Monterey

Bay

¯Año Nuevo

n = 14,933

Photo 2. Devices used to descend fish with

barotrauma: 1.Weighted crate

2. SeaQualizer - releases fish at a set depth.

1 2