Guess who's coming to dinner? Come to the Rockfish lecture at Camp Orkila on Dec. 14
Rockfish expert Dave Smith of the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium speaks on rockfish at this year’s Family Night for the Marine Science Lecture Series, presented by The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila.
There are about 26 species of rockfish in the Salish Sea. Some of these long-lived species can live to be over 100 years old. Members of the Scorpaenidae family, rockfish swimming in the rocky areas and kelp forests in our backyard all have a poisonous spine located on their dorsal fin and are related to the poisonous lionfishes you might have in your home salt water aquarium.
Although older female rockfish can give birth to up to 600,000 live young at a time, our local rockfish populations are threatened and three species are now listed on the U.S. Endangered Species List. Come find out why these amazing fishes are in decline and learn more amazing facts about rockfish from Dave Smith, Senior Staff Biologist at the Pt Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and enjoy a free dinner beforehand courtesy of YMCA Camp Orkila.
About the Marine Science Lecture Series: The 2011/12 Marine Science Lecture Series is designed to inspire the general public and to highlight the amazing fish and wildlife of our region. Lectures are free.
The lecture Series is presented by program partners The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila. It has been made possible through generous sponsorship by Tom Averna (Deer Harbor Charters), Barbara Brown, Denise and Dan Wilk (Eclipse Charters), Audrey and Dean Stupke and West Sound Marina. For more information visit https://www.seadocsociety.org
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Interesting article. Who would have thought that rockfish are thretened.