Rockfish Monitoring Survey Methods

Rockfish are commonly encountered by recreational divers throughout BC and monitoring can take place throughout the entire year! Surveys do not only have to take place in conservations areas, or in areas when rockfish are known to be abundant. In fact, this can lead to a bias in data and may suggest that rockfish populations are much more abundant than they actually are. All data is good data, even if no rockfish were spotted on your dive.

We conduct surveys using a “roving diver” method. In other words, just conduct your dive as you normally do! This makes conducting a survey when out on a dive easy, and the amount of time spent surveying on a dive is up to you! Whether its 5 or 25 minutes, just make sure to note the actual time spent surveying, not the total dive time. Record how many of each species of rockfish you encounter and at what depth. A guide to identifying commonly encountered rockfish species can be found here.

To help you conduct surveys efficiently and to collect data accurately we recommend reading our comprehensive monitoring protocol which can be found here. If you are interested in learning more about what the data you collect is used for, check out our 2024 summary report!

Rockfish tend to prefer different habitat types with differences also being observed based on age class. Understanding the habitat being utilized most commonly by rockfish can help better inform management strategies and where best to establish protections. For this reason, it is important to note where rockfish were observed on your dive, below is a guide which can be followed.

If you are really keen, the “complexity” of the habitat and the amount of vegetation present in the area rockfish were observed in can be recorded by following the guides below, however, this is an optional step!

When you submit the data gathered, you will also need to include the date, diver information, area and dive site (for an example, see below!). Try to be as accurate as possible and use GPS headings when possible.

Submitting data is easy and can help inform future management strategies. While out for a dive, please keep Rockfish in mind and send in your information! Help contribute to citizen science and become a local marine steward!

Data can be emailed to rockfish@mlss.com or through this survey link or QR code

While these surveys are meant for adult rockfish, baby rockfish are just as important! Check out our YOY survey information for what to do if you encounter baby rockfish!

Not a diver? You can still help! Take the pledge to voluntarily refrain from extracting rockfish from conservation areas, learn about local fishing regulations, and report any illegal fishing activity to DFO.