The only species NOAA determined to be "Endangered" under the Endangered Species Act was Bocaccio with two others found threatened.

The following regarding Bocaccio is from NOAA's preliminary draft findings but since it is background data rather than analysis (conjecture) I'd guess it is unchanged in the final:

In northern and central Californian waters age at first maturity is three years for both males and females, although males (32 cm) are somewhat smaller than females (36 cm). Fifty percent of males are mature by age three (42 cm), and all are mature by seven years (55 cm). Fifty percent of females are mature by their fourth year (48 cm), and all are mature by eight years of age (60 cm) (Wyllie Echeverria 1987). Off of southern California 50% of males are mature at 35 cm and all are reproductive at 42 cm. Fifty percent of females are reproductive at 36 cm and all are mature at 44 cm. Off Oregon bocaccio mature at larger sizes with females beginning to mature at 54 cm and all mature by 61 cm (Love et al. 2002). There is some evidence that fish may have begun to mature at earlier ages as population size had declined dramatically (MacCall 2002).


The statements about when "they" mature sexually may have been accurate for one species but certainly not for the one NOAA declared Endangered.

Also the following about reproduction:

Demographically, this species demonstrates some of the highest recruitment variability among rockfish species, with many years of failed recruitment being the norm (Tolimieri and Levin 2005). High fecundity and episodic recruitment events, largely correlated with environmental conditions, mean that bocaccio populations do not follow consistent growth trajectories. Sporadic recruitment drives population structure.


Insofar as this species is the most critical I suspect that it will be the driving force even though the BRT speculated that it is no longer to be found in Puget Sound.

Anyway, it grows fairly fast and matures sexually fairly quickly but has a poor record of successful spawning due to environmental conditions.

(Actually, not so bad - kind of like post-vas; lots of activity but little or no chance of off-spring)

Point here is to be sure that the facts they present are really pertinent to the problem and proposed actions. I will have my turn in Olympia.