Fish of Vancouver Island - some under threat of overfishing

Sebastes caurinus, Neck Point, Canada

In this post I show some species of fish and the seascape in which they are living. Photo's and descriptions are from the following dive spots: Rock Bay, Neck Point, Tyee Beach and Cottam Point.
All are situated in the Strait of Georgia at the east side of Vancouver Island (respectively from north to south), Canada. I will take you from the low water mark to about 19 m deep.

Oligocottus maculosus, Neck Point, Canada

Let's begin in very shallow water in an environment with rocks, pebbles and sand. Here you can find a small fish in abundance: the tidepool sculpin, Oligocottus maculosus. They were not shy and I saw them frequently chasing each other. Up to 9 cm, but usually smaller.

Oligocottus maculosus, Neck Point, Canada

Sculpins (NL: zeedonderpadden) are an important order (of the Scorpaeniformes) in these waters. They are represented with 37 species (Lamb & Edgell (1986)), against 7 species in Europe (Lythgoe (1976)). To be honest I did only find three species. The tidepool sculpin, the prickly sculpin and the second largest sculpin on earth: the great sculpin, Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus.

Oligocottus maculosus, Neck Point, Canada

I saw one great sculpin at Neck Point and I would love to show you this monster of about 75 cm long, but unfortunately I had some problems with my photo gear. The glass of the port of my underwater housing steamed up, because of the difference in watertemperature (23ºC at entry, 13ºC  at about 13 meter). The great sculpin was patient, I was not. Because I had to wait for the glass to clear up, I wandered off looking for other fauna. To my shame: when the glass was clear I could not find the sculpin any longer...
For two other species of sculpin at Vancouver Island have a look at this post.

Cottus asper, Tyee Beach, Canada 

Cottus asper, the prickly sculpin, is also a shallow water inhabitant (to 10 m deep). One of the distinguishing features of this species is the dark spot on its first dorsal fin. I like its stocky head. Up to 30 cm.

Cottus asper, Tyee Beach, Canada

All sculpins are bad swimmers. They just rest motionless on the bottom waiting for small fish, shrimps and crabs to pass by. When they attack, they quickly jump forwards and suck their prey into their big mouth.

Embiotoca lateralis, Tyee Beach, Canada

This is the striped seaperch, Embiotoca lateralis. Quite exotic with their bronze-gold colour and blue stripes. They are living near seaweed-covered rocks in shallow water. While diving I noticed one specimen, but in fact there were three. Have a look at the photo below. It shows how well they are camouflaged if you are looking from above. Up to 38 cm.

Embiotoca lateralis, Rock Bay, Canada

Embiotoca lateralis, Tyee Beach, Canada

Hexagrammos decagrammus, female, Rock Bay, Canada  

From shallow water up to 45 m deep you can find the kelp greenling, Hexagrammos decagrammus. Male and female are quite different. I am not surprised that in the past they were seen as two different species. Up to 60 cm long.

Hexagrammos decagrammus, female, Rock Bay, Canada 

Hexagrammos decagrammus, female, Rock Bay, Canada 

In the world of fish usually the male is the more colourful, the more beautiful. It is a matter of taste, but I think female kelp greenlings are well matched.

Hexagrammos decagrammus, male, Rock Bay, Canada 

Hexagrammos decagrammus, male, Neck Point, Canada 

They were common and curious, but they kept their distance. Lamb & Hanby (2005): 'Is this species the next one to be designated for slaughter, as fishers, politicians and fisheries managers look for another underutilized species to exploit?'

Hexagrammos decagrammus, male, Neck Point, Canada 

A most extraordinary coloured eye. First prize in the beauty contest!

Hexagrammos decagrammus, female, Rock Bay, Canada 

Two female kelp greenlings between seagrass.

Parophrys vetulus & Himatina trophina, Cottam Point, Canada

Parophrys vetulus, the english sole in its sandy biotope. Next to it the nudibranch Himatina trophina, Long-mouthed aeolid. More about this and other molluscs in my next post.

Parophrys vetulus, Cottam Point, Canada

Up to 61 cm long. Its form is more slender than its family member, the rock sole (below), which is more rounded.

Lepidopsetta bilineata, Cottam Point, Canada

Lepidopsetta bilineata, the rock sole. Lamb & Edgell (1986): 'The active rock sole commonly dwells upon sandy or muddy bottoms but may frequently, though briefly, move onto smooth rocky outcroppings.' Up to 60 cm.

Lepidopsetta bilineata, Cottam Point, Canada

Bassozetus elongatus, Rock Bay, Canada

This lingcod, Bassozetus elongatus, and the one on the next photo are juvenile specimens of about 25 to 35 cm. Lamb & Hanby (2005): 'Overfishing has reduced virtually every population of this species.'

Bassozetus elongatus, Rock Bay, Canada

Bassozetus elongatus, Tyee Beach, Canada

They can reach an impressive size and weight: up to 1.5 m long and a weight of 48 kg! The specimen on this photo was about 80 cm. As I tried to come closer to take some more photo's, because the opossum shrimps were ruining my picture (as you can see), it just swam away. To be honest I was a bit wary and was glad that there was a big photo apparatus between him/her and me.

Rhinogobiops nicholsii, Tyee Beach, Canada

In a more secluded biotope between rocks and sand you can find Rhinogobiops nicholsii, the blackeye goby. It is not shy at all. Strange, because in the same neighbourhood you will find big predators like the lingcod. Up to 15 cm long.

Rhinogobiops nicholsii, Pycnopodia helianthoides, Agarum fimbriatum (top right), Fucus gardneri (bottom right), Neck Point, Canada

Rhinogobiops nicholsii, Tyee Beach, Canada

In this photo you can see the blackeye goby 'standing' on its pectoral and pelvic fins. Like all Gobiidae, they have their pelvic fins transformed into a kind of sucker. But it is not by far as strong and sticky as the sucker of Gobiesox maeandricus.

Rhinogobiops nicholsii, Neck Point, Canada

In my last post I told about the total absence of Blenniidae in this part of the Pacific. It is almost the same with the Gobiidae, because the blackeye goby is one of only three representatives of this genus here. Against more than 40 species in Europe (Lythgoe (1976)). These families live in about the same biotope as sculpins and gunnels, which are very well represented in the waters around Vancouver Island. Why is family X so successful in Pacific waters and family Y in Europe? Your guess is as good as mine.

Sebastes maliger near Nereocystis luetkeana, Rock Bay, Canada 

Sebastes maliger, the quillback rockfish, swimming along bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkana. The big 'dogs' - like the ones in the photo above - were hovering over the bottom searching for prey, but when resting they were swimming near the big bull kelps for cover. Smaller specimens were always near the bottom and sometimes resting on the rocks (see the first photo of this post, its relative, the copper rockfish).

Sebastes maliger, Rock Bay, Canada

As you can see there was a lot of debris in the water. I am used to troubled water: in comparison this would be called clear water in the Netherlands. Usually a flash is causing 'backscatter': tiny debris particles which are reflected/highlighted by the flashlight(s). So you would think I used a flash in this photo and none in the next photo. But it is the other way round. Maybe it was slack tide at the moment I took the next photo and there was a lot less debris swirling around.

Sebastes maliger, Rock Bay, Canada

This species can live as long as 95 years (Lamb & Hanby (2005)). It lives subtidal to a depth of 275 m. Up to 60 cm long.

Sebastes caurinus, Rock Bay, Canada

This is another species of rockfish: Sebastes caurinus, the copper rockfish. One distinguishing feature compared to S. maliger is the white stripe along the lateral line. Contrary to S. maliger you can also find S. caurinus in the intertidal zone. Up to 66 cm long.

Sebastes caurinus, Rock Bay, Canada

A more reddish variety of the copper rockfish.

Sebastes caurinus, Neck Point, Canada

The next quotations are from Lamb & Hanby (2005): 'Steadily and alarmingly Pacific Northwest populations of this once-abundant species are declining. The main reasons are the commercial fishery.... '. About its congener S. maliger: 'Like other rockfish, this species is easily caught by novice anglers. Extraction activities, which continue unabated, can lift virtually every specimen from a reef.' A fishing quotum is imperative, but: 'Fishery managers, facing political pressure from consumers, appear powerless to stop it.'

Sebastes caurinus, Tyee Beach, Canada

As you have read in this post, some species of fish are under threat. I don't object to eating fish, but I hope this post will encourage you to enjoy these species just by looking at them. And by that I don't mean on your dinner plate. Protect them by fishing quota or marine reserves before it is too late!

Clingfish, crabs and the best marine biology day I ever had

Gobiesox maeandricus (captive/staged)*

This is the northern clingfish, Gobiesox maeandricus. Are there (m)any divers who have met this species? I only met these clingfish while beachcombing 

Rock Bay at extreme low water.

On what would eventually became the best marine biology day I ever had, I woke up at 7.30. I had planned to make my first two dives in Rock Bay (Vancouver Island, Canada) that day. But when I stepped out of our RV, I noticed it was extreme low water. As landlubber (as contrary to a diver) this means rich pickings and hopefully some new species. So I took my gear and went beachcombing and photographing. After 30 minutes I decided to skip photographing and to collect. Because in that short time I found 5 species I had never seen before, like the northern clingfish. Partly on, but mostly hidden between and beneath rocks.

Again Rock Bay at extreme low water.

A lot of fish, crab, sea anemones, tunicates, sponges, worms and molluscs hide this way from the sun (against dehydration) and for protection against predators. So you just have to overturn rocks to find certain species. 

None of these new species did I see afterwards while diving! Maybe if I had made a night dive I would have seen a few. A lot of these creatures, especially crabs and lobsters, are very cryptic and are mostly active after dark. The crabs and the clingfish I present in this post are partly photographed in their natural surrounding, but all staged.


Petrolisthes eriomerus (staged)

This is the flattop crab, Petrolisthes eriomerus. Sometimes it is difficult, even impossible, to identify a species by means of a photograph. This crab was easy to identify because of its blue mouthparts. Its lookalike, Petrolisthes cinctipes, has red mouthparts. To 2 cm across carapace.

Petrolisthes eriomerus (staged)

It is an Anomuran and related to hermit crabs. 'True' crabs have 4 pair of walking legs. Anomuran crabs have 3 pair of walking legs. Their last, fourth pair of legs is very small.

Hapalogaster mertensii (staged)

Another Anomuran crab (count the walking legs!), the hairy crab, Hapalogaster mertensii. To 3.5 cm across carapace.
Compared to European waters, this part of the Pacific is very rich in Anomuran crabs.


Hapalogaster mertensii (staged)


Cancer oregonensis (staged)

The typical shape of its carapace with indentations that look like the rim of an apple pie, makes the genus of this crab easy to identify: a Cancer species. It is Cancer oregonensis, the pygmy rock crab. And a pygmy it is: to 5 cm across carapace. Other Cancer crabs can become huge, like the red rock crab, Cancer productus, up to 20 cm, and the edible crab, Cancer pagurus (NL: Noordzeekrab) over 30 cm.


Cancer oregonensis (staged)

I like Cancer crabs. Their locomotion is a bit clumsy and for me they look a bit like teddy bears. But look out for their claws, because they are extremely strong.


Lophopanopeus bellus (staged)

The black-clawed crab, Lophopanopeus bellus, is a crab that lives in the same habitat as Cancer crabs. They are smaller, but also have formidable claws, especially older male specimens. This (youngish) specimen has brown pincers. I don't think the pincers really colour to black, as its name suggests, but it is a bit atypical. As is its smaller right claw, which it has lost and is now regenerating.


Lophopanopeus bellus (staged)

Lophopanopeus bellus (staged)

These black-clawed crabs are more typical and you can see that the claws of the specimen at the right are relatively big. I am sure that is a male. Have big claws something to do with making an impression to the ladies? Very well possible because that seems to be the case with fiddler crabs. To 4 cm across carapace.


Hemigrapsus oregonensis (staged)

The yellow shore crabs, Hemigrapsus oregonensis, were abundant and I had seen a few while snorkeling. To 5 cm across carapace.


Hemigrapsus oregonensis (staged)

The typical angular shape of Grapsid crabs. Click here for my post about its relative, the purple shore crab, Hemigrapsus nudus.


Hemigrapsus oregonensis (staged)

Hemigrapsus species are not relying on their strength, but on their agility and speed.


At this low tide seascape I found the clingfish and crabs. It looks a bit chaotic, but I know where to look. The pinkish blob is a giant pacific chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri (more about this and other shells in one of the next posts).

Do not ever forget to return the rocks and do it cautiously. If not, the seaweeds on the rocks will perish because they need the sun and the current, and sponges, tunicates etc. will die because of the sun and predators. I have seen a lot of sites in France and the Netherlands destroyed, because people are not aware or simply do not care for the life on and under rocks. So spread the word!

Photo: Hetty van der Hoeven

I put the collected animals in a bucket with water and after some time I went back to the RV (just 50 mtr away). My first dive was due to begin in one hour time, so I had not sufficient time for photographing. Where could I put them to stay overnight? My suitcase looked watertight...


My wife is accustomed to such strange behaviour, the other guests of the camping site were not. But they already thought I was a bit strange.
With some effort of my wife to keep the suitcase filled with water and out of the sun, all survived (when it became dark I removed the seaweed). The next day I made photo's and returned all the animals within a few meters of the location I collected them.


Gobiesox maeandricus (staged)

Back to the northern clingfish. As you can see, it looks like a flattened tadpole. It can grow to 16 cm, which is quite large for a clingfish species. All clingfish have a large sucker on their belly: their pelvic fins are formed into an adhesive disc. They have no scales that are easily lost or damaged. Instead they have a slimy hide.

That makes it the top gun fish in shallow waters with heavy current and crashing waves: it simply clings itself against the rocks. Clinging in itself costs no energy; it is a vacuum. Only freeing itself will be a little effort.

Lipophrys pholis (captive, Kerpape, France)

And they have no competitors. In Europe the shore clingfish, Lepadogaster lepadogaster (NL: zuignapvis) and its relatives have competitors: about 20 species of blennies, like the shanny, Lipophrys pholis (NL: steenslijmvis). Shannies are agile, also have no scales and are adapted to breathing out of water. See the next photo of three shannies which I exposed after overturning a rock at low tide. No competition for the northern clingfish: in this part of the Pacific there is not one single blenny species to be found!


Lipophrys pholis (Zierikzee, The Netherlands)

The northern clingfish hides its entire life and I think its 'lebensraum' is quite small. Lamb & Edgell (1986) note that while diving it is very infrequently sighted. 'Beachcombers overturning rocks commonly encounter this clingfish clinging tenaciously to its shelter. Various small snails, worms and shrimp-like creatures sharing the rocky abode of this fish also form much of is diet.'


Gobiesox maeandricus (staged)

As I know of its European counterpart, the already mentioned shore clingfish, Lepadogaster lepadogaster, you have to slide him forwards, shoving a piece of seaweed under its sucker to free him from the rock. If you push him backwards, the vacuum gets stronger and you will injure the fish considerably.

At the camping site they told me they were called bullheads and every year they are sought after for one day by children. As a competition who can collect the most. Last year (2011) they had collected 80 bullheads, this year only a few. He suspected that they had almost died out because of the heavy rainfall that year, that made the salinity too low. I found five specimens.


Where the sea meets land (author unknown)

But why the best marine biology day I ever had? An hour after this magnificent beachcombing adventure (illustrated above) at Rock Bay I had my first dive here. Swimming in an underwater forest a dream came true and I saw the spotted ratfish. In between this and the next dive my wife yelled: orca's! We saw four killer whales, Orcinus orca, passing by. And after I had warmed up in the sun I had another wonderful dive.

* I would have preferred a more natural background, but contrary to the other photo's of the clingfish I wanted to make a photo of these clingfish in water. Especially to get rid of the reflections caused by the slimy skin. So the glass baking dish (provided with the RV) on a white table was convenient at the time. And it is better than my lyme coloured suitcase... Even so I still had to do some background photoshopping. Ofcourse the specimens themselves have not been altered in any way!