Young of the Year (YOY) Survey Methods

YOY and juvenile rockfish can differ drastically from their adult counterparts and identifying species may at first seem intimidating. However, YOY do not have to be identified down to species level! When conducting these counts there are only a few criteria to look out for – whether the individual has a deep or elongate body and the presence or absence of a dorsal spot. See below (or refer to Obaza et al., 2023)!

With just these few observations, surveys can be conducted easily and very similarly to adult rockfish surveys. Always keep in mind that all data is good data, even if no YOY or juveniles were spotted on your dive. The amount of time spent surveying on a dive is always up to you, just as long as you 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.

Habitat preference of YOY rockfish, can differ compared to their adult counterparts. Identifying the habitat (s) serving as nurseries or refuges for baby fish 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.

Still not sure? Take a photo and send it into rockfish@mlssbc.com, along with the rest of your survey data and we’ll do the hard work for you! Data collected on your dives can also be emailed to rockfish@mlss.com or through our survey link or QR code.