Many rockfish are tasty! So it’s not surprising they’re among the most important commercial and recreational fish along the California coast. But because they produce relatively few offspring and many species don’t reproduce until they are 20 years old, they are easily threatened by overfishing. Over 90% of the largest rockfish (the best breeders) are already gone!

MARE’s newly developed Stereo Video Lander is greatly improving our ability to assess Rockfish Conservation Areas — places closed to fishing to protect overfished species. By providing an affordable means of getting our eyes deep in the water, the Lander enables us to confirm habitat type, fish abundance, and the size of bottom dwelling species, all of which is helping us better understand rebuilding and healthy fish populations. Our ultimate goal is to be able to fine-tune decisions about the need for fishing closures.” —Dr. Rick Starr, Moss Landing