Rosy rockfish
Sebastes rosaceus
- On view
- Monterey Bay Habitats
- Animal type
- Fishes
- Ecosystem
- Reefs & pilings
- Relatives
- Rockfishes and scorpionfishes; Family: Scorpaenidae
- Diet
- Small fishes, crustaceans
- Range
- California to central Baja California; sometimes north to Washington
- Size
- Up to 11 inches (30 cm)
Meet the rosy rockfish
You'd think a bright red fish with purple spots would attract some attention, but not on a deep reef. Since they live too deep for red light to reach, this red fish looks gray and blends in with the shadows.
Did you know?
Rockfishes cluster just above the reef. If a hungry fish or seal comes by, the rockfishes duck between the boulders. But usually they just hang there snacking on the smaller fishes, octopuses, and shrimp living among the rocks.
Conservation
Rockfishes, also known as rock cod or Pacific red snapper, are popular with seafood lovers. But rockfishes can't keep up with heavy fishing. Both commercial and recreational fishing have greatly reduced the once-plentiful rockfish populations along our coasts. To help rebuild these populations, some underwater habitats can be set aside as refuges or reserves where spawning rockfish are protected from fishing.
Cool facts
- Rosy rockfish hide under dark ledges during the day.
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