"Especially considering the public's heightened interest in rockfishes surrounding recent closures of rockfish fisheries on the West Coast, the information contained in this book will contribute to an increased understanding of the biology and ecology of rockfishes, and will most certainly promote the protection, conservation, and appreciation of these valuable living resources," said co-author Mary Yoklavich of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The third author is Lyman Thorsteinson of the United States Geological Survey.
The book provides comprehensive information on the biology, ecology, evolution, nomenclature, fisheries and conservation of the 72 species of rockfishes occurring from Alaska to the Gulf of California. In addition, a key to identifying each species is followed by detailed species accounts of appearance, life history, location, and fishery status. The book includes over 500 spectacular color illustrations and photographs and 75 distribution maps.
Milton Love first became interested in rockfishes when his father took him fishing on a party boat out of Malibu in the mid-1950s. "When we fished on a reef we caught at least eight species of rockfish, all of them colorful and cool looking," said Love. "From that time on I was interested in that group of fishes and never really changed my focus."
Milton Love can be reached at (805) 893-2935 or email@example.com. He will be doing research at sea this month but will be in his office on Nov. 14 through 19 and after Nov 22.