Sebastes alutus (Ocean Perch), belonging to genus Sebastes and family Sebastidae, has other common names such as Pacific rockfish, Red bream, Rose fish, Red perch, Pacific ocean perch and Rock Cod. It is widely found in North Pacific from Southern California (Pacific Rim, Northern Honshū, Japan and Bering Sea). It is plenty in Northern British Columbia, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska. Pacific Ocean Perch has compressed body and head which measures about 53 cm (21.2 inches) long. It usually weighs about 4.5 lb. (2.05 kg). The body is deep red with brown, olive green or black patches in body. It has thick, strong and gelatinous skin with pinkish flesh. The cooked Ocean perch has delicate, mild and sweet flavor. It lives from 100 to 200 years. In Alaska, the female fish lays upto 10000 to 300000 of eggs that hatch from April to May. The predators for Ocean Perch are Pacific halibut,sablefish, sperm whales, seabirds, other rockfish, lingcod, demersal fish and salmon.

Nutritional value

Raw Ocean perch of 85 grams covers 70.61 g of moisture, 67 calories, 13.01 g of protein, 1.31 g of total lipid fat and 1.02 g of ash. It also grants 1.27 µg of Vitamin B12, 24.3 µg of selenium, 1.244 g of lysine, 0.615 g of isoleucine, 0.16 g of tryptophan, 0.598 g of threonine, 211 mg of phosphorus, 0.63 g of valine, 1.053 g of leucine, 13.01 g of protein, 0.271 g of histidine, 244 mg of sodium and 55.2 mg of choline.

Health Benefits of Ocean perch

Ocean perch is loaded with various amounts of nutrients, protein and vitamins that provides enormous health benefits. It could be added to the diet in terms of soups, stews, chowders by boiling or deep frying. Health benefits provided by the consumption of Ocean perch are discussed below:

1. Formation of bones

The phosphorus is essential for the bone and teeth health. Along with calcium it helps to maintain strong bones. It also promotes the gum health as well as tooth enamel. It also provides relief from loss of mineral density or bone loss such as osteoporosis. The study shows that phosphorus has link with the maintenance of heart health and prevention of cardiovascular ailments. (1) (2)

2. Digestive health

Phosphorus helps to facilitate digestion. Niacin and riboflavin helps to metabolize energy to the response systems. It also assists to clear constipation, indigestion, diarrhea and promote bowel movements. It also eliminates toxins from the body besides recycling from the kidneys. (3)

3. Lowers fatigue

It treats the health conditions such as numbness, muscle weakness and fatigue. Experts recommend about 1200 mg of phosphorus for adults. The adequate amount of phosphorus cures sexual weakness, frigidity, loss of libido, impotence and sperm motility. (4)

4. Brain health

Phosphorus is vital for the brain cells to perform the various functions. The adequate amount of phosphorus enhances brain function as well as cognitive development and growth. The study shows that deficiency of phosphorus enhances chances of cognitive malfunction and health conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. (5)

5. Muscle health

Protein has vital role in the coordination and contraction of muscles. It is present in the muscle tissues that provide the structure to the muscles. It is essential for the formation of balance between breakdown of muscle proteins and rate of muscle protein synthesis. (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

6. Enhance immunity

It is essential for the formation of strong immunity power. With the help of self-defense mechanism, the body prevents itself from various diseases and infections. The antibodies eliminate foreign elements such as antigens in the body and deactivate it. (11) 

7. Reduce cholesterol

The high intake of niacin lowers the LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol from the body. It also prevents thickening of artery walls and the conditions such as atherosclerosis.

8. Treat diabetes

Vitamin B3 helps to cure diabetes and high level of blood sugar. Niacin helps to control level of HBA1C in diabetic patients.

Precautions                                                                                                 

• One should consume it moderately.
• Pregnant women and health ailments people should consult doctor before consuming.

How to Eat         

• Usually it is grilled, barbecued, poached, shallow fried, baked and steamed.
• In Asian style, it is steamed whole.
• It is added to soups, stews and chowders.

Other Facts        

They are slow growing species.

Ocean Perch Facts

When Pacific Ocean Perch becomes mature, its color becomes deep red with brown, olive green and black patches on upper part of the body. Those perch which live in deep water are dark red in color. The adult have also black patches on its skin. Young have silver to while below lateral line. They are elongated more but the color of fin is not dark.

Ocean perch Facts and nutritional value Quick Facts
Name:	Ocean perch Facts and nutritional value
Scientific Name:	Sebastes alutus
Origin	It is widely found in North Pacific from Southern California (Pacific rim, Northern Honshū, Japan and Bering Sea). It is plenty in Northern British Columbia, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska.
Colors	Deep red with brown, olive green or black patches
Shapes	Compressed body and head; Length: 53 cm (21.2 inches)
Flesh colors	Pinkish
Calories	48 Kcal./cup
Major nutrients	Vitamin B-12 (35.83%) Selenium (31.45%) Lysine (26.47%) Isoleucine (26.14%) Tryptophan (25.68%)
Health benefits	Formation of bones, Digestive health, Lowers fatigue, Brain health, Muscle health

Name	Ocean perch Facts and nutritional value
Scientific Name	Sebastes alutus
Native	It is widely found in North Pacific from Southern California (Pacific rim, Northern Honshū, Japan and Bering Sea). It is plenty in Northern British Columbia, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska.
Common/English Name	Pacific rockfish, Red bream, Rose fish, Red perch, Pacific ocean perch, Rock Cod
Name in Other Languages	French: Grande sébaste; Italian: Sebaste; German: Flachsee-Rotbarsch; Spanish: Gallineta; Japanese: Menuke;
Habitat	Saltwater
Lifespan	100-200 years
Shape & size	Compressed body and head; Length: 53 cm (21.2 inches)
Weight	4.5 lb. (2.05 kg)
Color	Deep red with brown, olive green or black patches
Flesh color	Pinkish
Skin	Thick, strong, gelatinous
Flavor/aroma	Delicate, mild, sweet
Predator	Pacific halibut, sablefish, sperm whales, seabirds, other rockfish, lingcod, demersal fish, salmon
Major Nutritions	Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamine) 0.86 µg (35.83%) Selenium, Se 17.3 µg (31.45%) Lysine 0.885 g (26.47%) Isoleucine 0.437 g (26.14%) Tryptophan 0.113 g (25.68%) Threonine 0.425 g (24.15%) Phosphorus, P 150 mg (21.43%) Valine 0.449 g (21.26%) Leucine 0.749 g (20.27%) Protein 9.26 g (18.52%)
Health Benefits	Formation of bones Digestive health Lowers fatigue Brain health Muscle health Enhance immunity Reduce cholesterol Treat diabetes
Calories in 1 fillet (50 gm)	48 Kcal
Precautions	One should consume it in limited quantity. Pregnant women and health ailments people should consult doctor for its consumption.
How to Eat	It is grilled, barbecued, poached, shallow fried, baked and steamed. In Asian style, it is steamed. It is also added in soups, stews and chowders.
Other Facts	They are known as slow growing species.