Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Also known as Canaries, Canary rockcod, Rockfish
Culinary Profile
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Lean and medium-firm, with a fine flake.
Rockfish are high in selenium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Adult canary rockfish are bright yellow/orange mottling above and gray underneath, three orange stripes across the head, and orange fins. Animals less than 14 inches long have dark markings on the posterior part of the spiny dorsal fin. Adults have gray along the lateral line. The genus name Sebastes is Greek for "magnificent" and the species name pinniger is Latin for "large-finned."
Biology
Canary rockfish are large rockfish that reach up to 2.5 feet in length and 10 pounds. They can live up to 75 years. Approximately 50 percent of adult canary rockfish are mature at 14 inches total length (about 5 to 6 years of age). Rockfishes are unusual among the bony fishes in that fertilization and embryo development is internal and female rockfish give birth to live larval young.
Where They Live
Range Canary rockfish are found between Punta Colnett, Baja California, and the Western Gulf of Alaska. Within this range, canary rockfish are most common off the coast of central Oregon. Habitat Canary rockfish primarily inhabit waters 160 to 820 feet deep but may be found to 1400 feet. Larvae are found in surface waters and may be distributed over a wide area extending several hundred miles offshore.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from California to Alaska.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2023, commercial landings of canary rockfish totaled 1.2 million pounds and were valued at $570,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Primarily harvested with midwater trawl gear, which has minimal impacts on ocean bottom habitats. To a lesser extent, harvested with bottom trawl gear. Midwater and bottom trawls may sometimes catch other species of fish, including overfished and protected species. Gear restrictions, closed areas, and catch share programs limit when, where, and how much trawl fishermen can harvest to reduce bycatch of other species.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Canary Rockfish ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selenium | 63 µg | 9 / 106 | 92% |
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Vitamin D | 3.8 IU | 22 / 54 | 59% |
| Phosphorus | 205 mg | 57 / 111 | 49% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 179 mg | 58 / 104 | 44% |
| Protein | 18.36 g | 60 / 111 | 46% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 84 mg | 66 / 104 | 37% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.39 µg | 67 / 106 | 37% |
| Iron | 0.3 mg | 91 / 111 | 18% |
| Zinc | 0.36 mg | 96 / 111 | 14% |
Other Species in Genus Sebastes
5 close biological relatives of Canary Rockfish profiled in this catalogue — typically sharing similar anatomy, depth range, and fishery management.
| Species | Scientific name | Protein (g/100 g) | Omega-3 DHA (mg) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acadian Redfish | Sebastes fasciatus | 19.39 | 174 | Smart Choice |
| Bocaccio | Sebastes paucispinis | 17.81 | 120 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Ocean Perch | Sebastes alutus | 19.39 | 174 | Smart Choice |
| Widow Rockfish | Sebastes entomelas | 17.73 | 585 | Smart Choice |
| Yellowtail Rockfish | Sebastes flavidus | 17.81 | 120 | Smart Choice |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Canary Rockfish.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Geoduck
Panopea generosa
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Pacific Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Pacific cod is a mild-tasting fish.
Similar by Flavour: Other Sweet-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the sweet flavour profile of Canary Rockfish, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Snow Crab
Chionoecetes opilio
Sweet.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much choline does Canary Rockfish contain?
A 100 g raw serving of Canary Rockfish supplies 65 mg of choline, around 12% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
Is Canary Rockfish a good source of vitamin B12?
Yes — Canary Rockfish provides 1.39 µg of vitamin B12 per 100 g raw, which is 58% of the 2.4 µg daily value.
Is Canary Rockfish a lean fish or a rich one?
At 90 kcal per 100 g raw, Canary Rockfish counts as lean on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
How much protein is in 100 g of Canary Rockfish?
A 100 g raw serving of Canary Rockfish provides 18.36 g of protein — roughly 37% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
What is the stock status of Canary Rockfish?
The Pacific Coast stock is not overfished.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught canary rockfish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are three stocks of canary rockfish: Pacific coast, one stock contained in the Gulf of Alaska Demersal Shelf Rockfish Complex, and one stock contained in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Complex. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Pacific coast stock is not overfished (2023 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
Population
The Pacific Coast stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Most fishing gear used to harvest canary rockfish rarely contacts the ocean floor and has minimal impacts on habitat. Area closures and gear restrictions protect sensitive rocky, cold-water coral and sponge habitats from bottom trawl gear.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch of overfished and protected species.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the canary rockfish fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan : Permits and limited entry to the fishery. Limit on how much may be harvested in one fishing trip. Certain seasons and areas are closed to fishing.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 22 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.