Rockfish - Scorpaenidae

Shortraker rockfish (Sebastes borealis, Rus.- severny morskoy okun)

Shortraker rockfish is a representative of the upper bathyal zone. This species can be found near Pacific coast of Kamchatka in depth of 250-850 m (820-2,800 ft). It is most abundant in depth of 300-550 m (1,000-1,800 ft) and it is optimal for it. The back of shortraker rockfish is dark red, the sides are red or pink with vague darker spots. It belongs to large rockfish and can be as long as 120 cm (47") and as heavy as 20 kg (44 lb). In commercial catch there are fish of 40-60 cm (16-24”) and 1.5-4 kg (3.3-8.8 lb). Shortraker rockfish lives up to 42 years. It belongs to viviparous fish with inner impregnation. Near Pacific coast of Kamchatka and the Northern Kuril Islands, shortraker rockfish became mature in the age of 9-12 years with 40-60 cm (16-24”) of length, though females became mature later than males. Mating occurs in September-October in fattening places. After mating a wintering period starts and lasts to spring.

Rockfish, Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus, Rus. – tikhookeansky morskoy okun)

Pacific ocean perch is the most numerous of all rockfish. It concentrates near south-eastern Kamchatka and this is good for commercial harvesting.
The body of Pacific ocean perch is red with dark spots, odd in shape. Its lower jaw is significantly protruded. It belongs to relatively slowly growing fish with long life (up to 30 years). Maximum size of this species is 53 cm (20.9”) and 2 kg (4.4 lb). Like shortraker rockfish, this species belongs to viviparous fish with inner impregnation. They mate in September-October in fattening places down to 260-420 m (850-1,400 ft). After mating a wintering period starts and males stand apart in separate schools.

Gray rockfish, Blue rockfish (Sebastes glaucus, Rus. – goluboy okun)

Blue rockfish has greenish-blue color and short time after catch (being oxidized) it obtains dark-brown color with greenish-yellow tint, and the belly is black. The body length is up to 49-51 cm (19-20”). It is rather abundant in waters near Kamchatka. However this species lives mostly in upper sublittoral no deeper than 125 m (410 ft) and actually not harvested at all. It can be found in summer down to 8-35 m (26-115 ft). Maximum density is down to 15-30 m (50-100 ft).

Longspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus macrochir, Rus. – dlinnopery shiposhchek)

Longspine thornyhead lives in relatively deep depths near Pacific coast of Kamchatka in depth of 200-950 (660-3,100 ft), in Bering sea in 300-600 m (1,000-2,000 ft), in Okhotsk sea in 100-950 m (330-3,100 ft). The main stock stay everywhere in the range of 400-600 m (1,300-2,000 m) with marketable concentrations registered. Maximum size is 42 cm (16.5”) and .7 kg (1.5 lb). The species belongs to relatively slowly growing fish with long life (up to 25 years).

Bullhead - Cottidae

It is one of the most spread families in waters near Kamchatka. It is the most abundant in genera and species (about 80). In many cases bullhead body is naked or partially covered with scales, horns, bone plates; the head is usually broad and flat, covered with protuberances and projections, the mouth is big, but teeth are weak. The body gets thinner to the tail. Pectoral fins are big, abdominal fins are small, sometimes they absent. Back fins consist of prickly and soft rays which are not always separated from each other.