On the biology of rockfishes Sebastes minor and S. taczanowskii (Sebastidae) from the coastal waters of northern Primorye

Based on the materials from 1998–2004, the distribution, size and weight composition, growth, dates of reproduction, and the quantitative composition of the food of rockfishes Sebastes minor and S. taczanowskii from the coastal waters of northern Proimorye are considered. It is shown that in the coastal biotopes Sebastes minor prefer sites at the boundaries between sand and reefs with algal vegetation, while S. taczanowskii prefers a rather deep part of the reefs. S. minor reaches the length of 18 cm, weight of 85 g, and the age of 10 years; S. taczanowskii reaches 21 cm, 160 g, and 8+, respectively. The rate of growth in both perches is at its maximum in the first three years of life. S. minor is a zooplanktophage (it feeds mainly on copepods and amphipods); S. taczanowskii is a polyphage (it more often eats amphipods, decapods, and juvenile fish).