Utilization of Blood Plasma for Identifying Sex and Reproductive Status of Yelloweye Rockfish Subjected to Barotrauma and Recompression Events

Discard mortality of rockfishes Sebastes spp. is a management concern along the west coast of North America.  Although many rockfish species have exhibited the potential to survive following barotrauma injuries caused by forced decompression, it is unclear if barotrauma affects reproductive output.  This study assessed whether non-lethal blood plasma indicators can be used as a potential tool to identify sex, maturity, and reproductive viability of Yelloweye Rockfish S. ruberrimus, captured from an isolated reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1 – 2 years following one or more barotrauma events and recompression with a deepwater-release mechanism (DRM).  Results from hematological sampling demonstrated that mature females can be discerned from males and immature individuals during oocyte development and immediately following parturition.  However, it was not possible to discern between mature females whose oocyctes were developing and post-parturition.  All mature female yelloweye rockfish captured (n = 16) in 2008 or 2009 were gravid or spent in 2010, indicating that there is no evidence that reproduction of yelloweye rockfish is affected 1 – 2 years following forced decompression and recompression with a DRM.  These results provide fisheries managers with information on the importance of DRMs as a tool for rockfish conservation.