State marine biologists plan to expand their search for forage fish spawning areas to beaches throughout Puget Sound. The project is intended to provide WDFW, the agency responsible for managing forage fish stocks in state waters, with a better understanding of what makes good spawning habitat for these fish.
Forage fish (inclusive of herring, smelt, anchovies, and sardines) are small, schooling fish which serve as an important source of food for other fish species, birds, and marine mammals. In general, little is known of the biology or abundance of forage fish stocks in Washington waters.
More information on the surveys can be found at http//wdfw.wa.gov/new/oct2715a/
