Rockfish fisheries, management, and knowledge exchange in Puget Sound

Rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) are a group of long-lived Pacific fishes that are susceptible to overharvest in commercial and recreational fisheries due to their life history and site fidelity. Different histories of rockfish fishery development throughout their range have led to varying management challenges for these species, including the listing of two rockfish species under the Endangered Species Act in Puget Sound. In this talk, I will present stories of rockfish fisheries in Puget Sound from community, policy, and science perspectives. Using examples drawn from our research over the last decade, I will highlight ways in which fishers’ knowledge, stewardship, and innovation are contributing to improved conservation and management of rockfish.

About the Speaker

Headshot of Anne smiling.
Anne Beaudreau
Associate Professor, University of Washington, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, Seattle, WA

Anne Beaudreau and her team conduct research to understand how fisheries systems (fish + people) respond and adapt to environmental, regulatory, and social change. We draw approaches and perspectives from multiple fields, including fisheries science, ecology, anthropology, geography, and policy science. Anne began her career at the New England Fishery Management Council, where she saw firsthand that the necessary ingredients for good decision-making are not only the ‘best available science,’ but also relationship-building, communication, and trust. Anne went on to earn a Ph.D. in aquatic and fishery sciences from the University of Washington and held a faculty position at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Juneau, AK, from 2012 to 2020. She has been an associate professor at UW’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs since 2021.

Environmental Speaker Series

The Environmental Speaker Series is hosted by the College of the Environment at Western Washington University.

The Series is free and open to the public. Talks are held each Thursday at 4:30 pm in Academic Instructional Center West room 204 - AW-204. Talks will also be streamed via zoom. Register with the Alumni Association for the zoom link. Paid parking is available in lot C.

Learn more about the Environmental Speaker Series
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