Sebastes paucispinis
Bocaccio are large Pacific coast rockfish that are slow-growing, late to mature, and long-lived. They range from Punta Blanca, Baja California, to the Gulf of Alaska off Krozoff and the Kodiak Islands, but are most common between Oregon and northern Baja California. Having struggled to recover from overfishing, the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin distinct population segment of bocaccio is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Non-ESA listed populations of bocaccio are harvested in commercial and recreational fisheries off the West Coast and Alaska.
Learn about the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery off the West Coast
Above target population level.
At recommended levels.
Area closures and gear restrictions protect sensitive rocky, cold-water coral and sponge habitats from bottom trawl gear.
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
There are three stocks of bocaccio: southern Pacific coast, one stock contained in a stock complex along the northern Pacific coast, and one stock contained in a stock complex in the Gulf of Alaska. According to the most recent stock assessments:
The southern Pacific coast stock is not overfished (2017 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2018 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART. This stock had been overfished and was successfully rebuilt in 2017.
The population status of the Minor Shelf Rockfish North Complex, which includes northern Pacific coast bocaccio, is unknown. The complex has not been assessed, but according to 2018 catch data, the complex is not subject to overfishing.
The population status of the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Complex, which includes bocaccio, is unknown. The complex has not been assessed, but according to 2020 catch data, the complex is not subject to overfishing.