Forage Fish Program
Background: The Northwest Straits Commission and Marine Resources Committees are working to collect information to better understand surf smelt and Pacific sand lance. These and other schooling species, along with Pacific herring, are considered 'forage fish'. They are demonstrated drivers of the region's marine food web, forming huge ‘baitballs’ that fuel predators from above and below the water’s surface.
It is widely believed that dramatic declines observed in seabirds, waterfowl, salmon and other creatures are linked to shifts in the density and distribution of forage fish populations. And while some of these prey, such as herring, have been well-studied in Puget Sound, Pacific sand lance have not. Little or no historical information is available on trends in their abundance, movement throughout the seasons, or their ecological role in this region.
Objective: Building upon more than a decade of survey, mapping, and other efforts by MRC members and project partners, this program aims to expand the knowledge base around forage fishes and their role in Salish Sea ecosystems.
Pacific Sand Lance - A Review of Historical Data
In 2010, the Commission compiled over 15,000 historical sampling records of Pacific sand lance from 1,432 sites around Puget Sound. Raw data were generously provided in a variety of formats from federal, state and county agencies, tribes, universities, private consulting businesses, and non-profit organizations. This was a first step toward capturing an accurate snapshot of when and where sand lance have been caught throughout this region.
A Power Point presentation summarizing the project is available online.
Pacific Sand Lance Maps
The review of data made available for this project resulted in GIS maps depicting much of the sampling effort between 1970-2009, and the presence/absence of sand lance in the 12 counties of greater Puget Sound.
Click the icons below to view maps of Pacific sand lance presence/absence and binned data for each of the seven Northwest Straits counties.
View Pacific sand lance in a larger map
Program Accomplishments
- Commission funded San Juan MRC to document information and develop intertidal sampling protocols.
- Resulting report by Larry Moulton and Dan Penttila provided foundation for largest forage fish mapping survey undertaken anywhere.
- A model was developed to identify habitat suitability for spawning forage fish. Using data collected by the seven MRCs, GIS maps were prepared for all counties of the Northwest Straits.
- Created an online bibliography with links to research about Pacific sand lance.
- Scientific workshop convened by the Northwest Straits Commission, outlining first steps toward finding answers to basic questions about Pacific sand lance.
- The Commission compiled historical sampling records to determine when and where sand lance have been caught over the past 40 years.
- A team of scientists conducted subtidal research on Pacific sand lance.
- Co-sponsored a needs assessment on forage fish research & conservation identifying pressing science, conservation & management actions for this region. Read the full summary.
- Co-sponsor symposium on Global Conservation, Trophic Relationships and Ecology of Forage Fish in Marine Ecosystems at the 2011 American Fisheries Society conference.
Next Steps
- Convene 2012 Friday Harbor Labs Research Symposium: Conservation and Ecology of Marine Forage Fishes
- Support publication of forage fish data collected in Washington state
- Gather and disseminate scientific information
- Identify, prioritize and carry out nearshore restoration projects in support for Puget Sound Action Agenda
- Expand online bibliography
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, authorized by Congress, is nationally recognized as an innovative approach to bring sound science and an ecosystem perspective together with citizen energy and entrepreneurship.