Pamphlet - Young of the Year Rockfish Program

YOUNG-OF-YEAR ROCKFISH
PROGRAM

How to Survey for YOY Rockfish

So you want to survey for rockfish
Smart Move!
• Fill data gaps on
listed species
• Take part in restoring
Puget Sound
• Learn about scientific
data collection
• Impress friends with
your fish knowledge
• Explore new dive
sites
• Improve search ability
(i.e. you will look at
sites in a new way)

How do I start?
• Connect with survey leader (e.g. Harbor WildWatch,
Emerald Dive Club)
• Review survey information found on NOAA webpage
(https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/yelloweyerockfish#science)

How does the survey work?
Divers conduct a timed “roving” survey through discrete habitat and depth zones
Please slow down, I don’t understand all those terms!

Roving survey means swimming around and counting all the young-of-year rockfish yo
Discrete habitat and depth zones mean each survey is conducted in a specific
habitat type (e.g. kelp, rocky or artificial reef, eelgrass) and depth bin (< 21 feet,
21-60 feet and > 60 feet)
Note the time you start and finish searching in a new habitat type and depth bin.
You can do it on your dive computer!
By timing surveys and breaking them into habitat and depth bins, we can learn a
lot about rockfish abundance and habitat associations!!!

What is a Young-of-Year Rockfish?
Young of year rockfish are those that have recruited to the site in the last year.

Because we can’t age fish perfectly by sight, we count anything less than 10 cm as a Y
For reference, 10 cm is a little less than the size of a soda can or a smart phone

Aren’t little rockfish hard to ID?
Yep!
But fortunately you don’t need to identify to species level for this work!
Step 1 – Is it a rockfish?
It may be helpful to learn some other species that are not rockfish that
may be easily confused (e.g. shiner surfperch, sculpin)
Step 2 – Does it have an elongate or deep body?
Step 3 – Does it have a black spot on dorsal
fin?

Presence/Absence of Dorsal Spot

Body Type

Can I learn more?

Sure – check out the survey guide on the NOAA page!

Do you also want information on habitat?
Yes! But don’t panic, it’s super basic
There are a few questions on whatever habitat type for you to provide
qualitative responses

More Questions
Where do I submit data?
• You can email NOAA project leads directly (RockfishID@noaa.gov,
Adam@pauamarineresearch.com or James.Selleck@noaa.gov) or

• your survey leader can provide you with datasheets to fill out that they can subm
• we can provide you with link to Google Sheet to input data directly
Should I submit data if I don’t find any YOY rockfish?
Yes!!! Zeroes are just as important as any other count
Do I have to survey at specific sites?
Not at all, you can do a survey anywhere. If you want to go to a popular
dive site, great. If you want to try a new site, also great!

Slate Setup
Site/Survey Information
Habitat Information
YOY Tallies

Survey 2

Survey 3

Search Images

Search Images

Search Images

Practice Survey

Practice Survey
A

B

C

D

Practice Survey
A

B

C

D

Practice Survey
A

Data to report for A
- Number of minutes to complete survey
- 4 Deep body no dorsal spot YOY
- Habitat Type (eelgrass) with basic characteristics
- Density
- Blade height
- Depth bin (likely shallow)

Practice Survey
B

Data to report for B
- Number of minutes to complete survey
- 0 YOY
- Habitat Type (soft bottom) with basic characteristic
- Sediment type
- Macroalgae abundance
- Depth bin

Practice Survey
C

Data to report for C
- Number of minutes to complete survey
- 2 Deep body no dorsal spot YOY
- Habitat Type (natural reef) with basic characteristic
- Relief
- Abundance of macroalgae
- Depth bin

Practice Survey
D
Data to report for D
- Number of minutes to complete survey
- Four Deep body no dorsal spot YOY
- Habitat Type (kelp forest) with basic characteristics
- Kelp density
- Canopy height
- Depth bin

Practice Survey
Send in results to project lead, or:
- Adam@pauamarineresearch.com
- James.Selleck@noaa.gov
- RockfishID@noaa.gov
We also love pictures!!!

Questions?

Email:
Adam@pauamarineresearch.com
James.Selleck@noaa.gov
RockfishID@noaa.gov