Sebastolobus alascanus
EN

Sebastolobus alascanus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortspine_thornyhead

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Sebastolobus alascanus faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive commercial fishing pressure, particularly from bottom trawling operations that target this species in deep Pacific waters. The species' extremely slow growth rate and late sexual maturity make it highly vulnerable to overfishing, as populations cannot recover quickly from exploitation. Climate change is altering deep-sea temperature and oxygen conditions in its habitat range, potentially affecting prey availability and reproductive success.

Threat summary

Habitat

This deep-sea rockfish inhabits continental slope waters of the North Pacific, typically found at depths between 25-1,500 meters over rocky bottoms and muddy substrates. The species occurs from the Bering Sea south to central California, preferring cooler deep waters with temperatures ranging from 2-9°C.

MARINE· major

Other threatened species in SCORPAENIDAE

EN

Ascension Scorpionfish

Scorpaena ascensionis

Unknown
EN

Melliss's Scorpionfish

Scorpaena mellissii

Unknown

Threatened in Canada

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
EN

Nymphaea loriana

Declining
EN

Lake Lamprey

Entosphenus macrostoma

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VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sebastolobus alascanus classified as Endangered?
Sebastolobus alascanus is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Sebastolobus alascanus faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive commercial fishing pressure, particularly from bottom trawling operations that target this species in deep Pacific waters. The species' extremely slow growth rate and late sexual maturity make it highly vulnerable to overfishing, as populations cannot recover quickly from exploitation. Climate change is altering deep-sea temperature and oxygen conditions in its habitat range, potentially affecting prey availability and reproductive success.
Where does Sebastolobus alascanus live?
Sebastolobus alascanus occurs in Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Japan, Mexico, and Russia (plus 1 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sebastolobus alascanus?
The main threats to Sebastolobus alascanus are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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