Shortspine Thornyhead

About the Species

Shortspine thornyhead are found from the Bering Sea to Baja California, Mexico. They are distinguished from other rockfishes by the spiny ridge across their cheek. Shortspine thornyhead can live in depths up to 1,500 meters, though they are more commonly found between 55 and 465 meters.

U.S. wild-caught shortspine thornyhead is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.

Status

• According to the 2013 stock assessment, shortspine thornyhead on the Pacific Coast are not overfished and are not subject to overfishing based on the 2016 catch data.
• In the Gulf of Alaska, shortspine thornyhead are part of the thornyhead rockfish complex, which also contains longspine and broadfin thornyhead.
  • According to the 2018 stock assessment, the status of this complex is unknown.
  • According to the 2017 catch data, the complex was not subject to overfishing, and the fishery’s total allowable catch has not been attained since 1995.
• In the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, shortspine thornyhead are part of the other rockfish complex.
  • According to the 2018 stock assessment, the status of this complex is unknown.
  • According to the 2017 catch data, the complex was not subject to overfishing.

Protected Status

Appearance

• Shortspine thornyhead have elongated bodies and large heads.
• They have a strong spiny ridge and 16 dorsal spines.
• They are bright red or orange red in color, and often have white patches on their sides, backs, cheeks and spiny dorsal fin tips when seen underwater.
• Their fins can have black patches and there may be dark spots or speckles on their sides.

Biology

• Shortspine thornyheads grow slowly and may reach lengths up to 80 centimeters.
• They may live 80 to 100 years.
• Females grow larger than males, and reach maturity around 18 centimeters, or 8 to 10 years of age.
• Shortspine thornyhead spawn pelagic, gelatinous masses.
• They spawn between December and May along the West Coast and between April and May in the Gulf of Alaska.
• Shortspine feed on shrimp, crabs, zooplankton, amphipods, and other benthic invertebrates.

Where They Live

• Shortspine thornyhead are found from the Bering Sea to Baja California, Mexico.

Management

• NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the shortspine thornyhead fishery on the West Coast.
• Managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan:
  • Permits and limited entry to the fishery.
  • Limit on how much may be harvested in one fishing trip.
  • Certain seasons and areas are closed to fishing.
  • Gear restrictions help reduce bycatch and impacts on habitat.
  • A trawl rationalization catch share program that includes:
    • Catch limits based on the population status of each fish stock and divided into shares that are allocated to individual fishermen or groups.
    • Provisions that allow fishermen to decide how and when to catch their share.
• NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council manage shortspine thornyhead as part of the thornyhead complex in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and the other rockfish complex in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI).
• Managed under the Fishery Management Plans for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands:
  • Thornyheads are managed as a “bycatch only” fishery in the GOA because they are nearly always taken in fisheries directed at sablefish and other rockfish.
  • Directed fishing on thornyhead exclusively is not permitted.