Acadian redfish

Acadian redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Sebastidae
Genus: Sebastes
Species: S. fasciatus
Binomial name
Sebastes fasciatus
D. H. Storer (fr), 1854[2]
Catch of Acadian redfish

The Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus), also known as the Atlantic redfish, is a marine deep-water fish belonging to the family Sebastidae.[3][4] Found in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, the Acadian redfish lives at depths of between 70 and 500 m (230 and 1,640 ft). This fish is colored reddish-orange and can live up to 50 years or more[4][5] and reach lengths up to 20 in (508 mm).[5]

Distribution and habitat

The Acadian redfish is native to the waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and its range extends from Virginia, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, western Greenland and Iceland. It is found at depths varying between 70 and 500 m (230 and 1,640 ft).[2] It swims near the seabed in areas with clay-silt or rocky bottoms.[4]

Biology

The Acadian redfish feeds on a variety of crustaceans, mollusks, and smaller fish.[5] In addition, the Acadian redfish mates in the fall to late winter through means of "ovoviviparous reproduction" with around "15,000 [to] 20,000 extruded larvae produced per female" per season.[6] Due to its slow growth rate, low fecundity, harmless nature, tendency to "hit almost any bait," and being considered a great food fish, the redfish has become endangered.[4][5] Due to conservation efforts, the redfish population has rebounded and the species has been declared fully rebuilt as of June, 2012.[7] The Acadian redfish is preyed on by the halibut, the Atlantic cod, swordfishes and harbor seals.[2]

The Acadian redfish is very similar in appearance to the deepwater redfish Sebastes mentella. The two species can be distinguished by the number of soft rays in the anal fin, internal examination of the gas bladder, or by genetic testing.[6]

Notes

  1. ↑ Sobel, J. (1996). "Sebastes fasciatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bailly, Nicolas (2013). "Sebastes fasciatus Storer, 1854". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  3. ↑ "Sebastes fasciatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2008). "Sebastes fasciatus" in FishBase. August 2008 version.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Acadian redfish, Maine Dept. of Marine Resources.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ralph K. Mayo, Jon K. T. Brodziak, John M. Burnett, Michele L. Traver, and Laurel A. Col, "The 2005 Assessment of Acadian Redfish, Sebastes fasciatus Storer, in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Region," Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 07-06, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (April, 2007).
  7. ↑ NOAA - FishWatch: Acadian Redfish, Retrieved 20 February 2013.

Other references