The Marine Science Lecture series presents “Rockfish: Scorpion Fish in Your Back Yard” by Dave Smith of the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.

He will speak on  Wednesday, Dec. 14 in the Larry Norman Lodge, YMCA Camp Orkila. A free dinner starts at 5:30 p.m.; lecture and kids’ activities are at 7 p.m.

There are about 26 species of rockfish in the Salish Sea. Some of these long-lived species can live to be over 100 years old. Members of the Scorpaenidae family, rockfish swimming in the rocky areas and kelp forests in our backyard all have a poisonous spine located on their dorsal fin and are related to the poisonous lionfishes you might have in your home salt water aquarium.

Although older female rockfish can give birth to up to 600,000 live young at a time, our local rockfish populations are threatened and three species are now listed on the U.S. Endangered Species List. Find out why these fishes are in decline from Smith, Senior Staff Biologist at the Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.

The lecture Series is presented by program partners The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila.