Forage Fish Nars Martinez

Forage Fish Facts Small Fish that breed prolifically Serve as food for marine animals, birds and salmon live and spawn on the shoreline or in the shallow marine waters of the Sound. forage fish include surf smelt, sand lance, and Pacific Herring

Trouble Causes Disease and warm water stress Dredging, pollution and shading of near shore waters with docks and other over- water structures Alterations to shoreline habitat Other shoreline modifications

The Effects Population is drastically decreasing Negatively affecting the marine life food chain Damaged and destroyed habitats Shoreline development threatens the fragile yet critical part of the ecosystem Affecting other animals that use forage fish as a source of energy and food

Trying to fix it Fish and Wildlife has a forage fish management plan and is transferring years of inventory data to digital maps to make available to local governments and restoration groups. Local government has added forage fish protection measures. Resource committees and other groups are undertaking inventory and mapping projects to better understand and protect these species. Agencies and local partners are helping increase awareness and improve protections, along targeted shorelines