Let the small fish play their big role in the ocean Northeast Atlantic forage fish
What are forage fish? Forage fish, also called prey fish, are small to medium-sized schooling species that live in the water column. They usually feed on planktonic animals and plants, contributing significantly to the diets of many marine animals higher up the food web 35 cm
EXAMPLES OF FORAGE FISH SPECIES
NORWAY POUT
HERRING
MACKEREL
GREAT SILVER SMELT
12 cm
SANDEEL
CAPELIN
ANCHOVY
SPRAT
Over
1/2
They are among the top landed fish
of total fisheries landings
and also for industrial purposes
They are caught for human consumption
Top Predators
Forage fish are the backbone of marine ecosystems
Large adult fish
Forage fish form the staple diet of many marine species and transfer critical energy, carbon and nutrients across the food chain
Forage fish
Phytoplankton
From eating microscopic organisms at the bottom to being the prey to predators at the top of the chain, forage fish are an essential link in marine food webs. They are necessary for the carbon cycle and a healthy marine ecosystem
Water column invertebrates & zooplankton
Bottom-dwelling invertebrates
A vital food source for other species
CARNIVOROUS FISH
SEABIRDS
MARINE MAMMALS
like Atlantic cod and whiting, consumer favourites and highly profitable species
like the black-legged kittiwake and puffin, depend on forage fish as their primary source of food
like the grey seal, harbour porpoise and minke whale, depend on forage fish
A bountiful ABUNDANCE OF FORAGE FISH IS NECESSARY to support healthy marine ecosystems!
A low supply of forage fish can reduce predator abundance, particularly when forage supply is low near their important breeding habitats
Why do we need to manage forage fish more carefully? 5
1
They are KEY FOR A
BALANCED ECOSYSTEM
Often CATCH LIMITS
2
3
ARE SET ABOVE SCIENTIFIC ADVICE,
They are increasingly
VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
They are SENSITIVE TO
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES and harm
perpetuating their overfishing
4
Fisheries management disregards their
IMPORTANCE AS FOOD FOR PREDATORS
What can be done to protect these little fish and facilitate their big role in the ocean? Northeast Atlantic countries have committed to adopt an ecosystem-based and precautionary approach towards managing forage fish, but they now need to put words into action When managing forage fish, NE Atlantic countries should:
1
ADOPT PRECAUTIONARY MANAGEMENT DECISIONS
By closing fisheries or setting fishing limits well below the maximum catch advice, to account for their ecosystem role, and improve species' resilience to pressures
4
EVALUATE AND ADOPT MANAGEMENT PLANS ALIGNED WITH ECOLOGICAL GOALS
To ensure the long-term viability of the fisheries and marine ecosystem
2
IMPROVE SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENTS
By adding predator and interspecies considerations into natural mortality estimates, to account for their ecological role and align with precautionary principles
5
BAN THE EXPANSION AND OPENING OF NEW FORAGE FISHERIES IN THE NE ATLANTIC
To ensure a full analysis has been done into their impact on the ecosystem
3
IDENTIFY AND PROTECT KEY HABITATS
To protect forage fish and foraging grounds of dependent predators