Connecting Communities to the Salish Sea - The Great BC Egg Hunt - Protecting Forage Fish Habitats
Presentation Abstract
Forage fish, also known as feeder fish, are small fish that play a huge role as food for thousands of predator species. Surf smelt, Pacific sand lance and capelin are three marine forage fish that spawn in the upper one-third of the intertidal zone on sandy/gravel beaches. In BC, the lack of government surveys to document these habitats has hindered coastal management. BC biologists with Sea Watch Society and former Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife forage fish expert, Mr. Dan Penttila, have trained over 30 communities and 300 volunteers to undertake spawning surveys. The results of this completely volunteer-driven BC Shore Spawners Alliance project includes an online GIS data atlas, monitoring over 80 beaches, developed a spawning season data base, and informing government policy to protect these critical habitats. Scientists and communities continue to work together to document and protect forage fish spawning and rearing habitats. Future work includes community outreach, sensitive habitat mapping with Emerald Sea Biological using the BC Forage Fish Habitat Assessment Tool, forage fish beach restoration and long-fin smelt surveys. Partnerships include government agencies, municipal and regional districts, First Nations, community groups and universities.
Session Title
Session S-03D: Forage Fish Research and Protection in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Smelts--Spawning--Research--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Pacific sand lance--Spawning--Research--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Connecting Communities to the Salish Sea - The Great BC Egg Hunt - Protecting Forage Fish Habitats
Room 6C
Forage fish, also known as feeder fish, are small fish that play a huge role as food for thousands of predator species. Surf smelt, Pacific sand lance and capelin are three marine forage fish that spawn in the upper one-third of the intertidal zone on sandy/gravel beaches. In BC, the lack of government surveys to document these habitats has hindered coastal management. BC biologists with Sea Watch Society and former Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife forage fish expert, Mr. Dan Penttila, have trained over 30 communities and 300 volunteers to undertake spawning surveys. The results of this completely volunteer-driven BC Shore Spawners Alliance project includes an online GIS data atlas, monitoring over 80 beaches, developed a spawning season data base, and informing government policy to protect these critical habitats. Scientists and communities continue to work together to document and protect forage fish spawning and rearing habitats. Future work includes community outreach, sensitive habitat mapping with Emerald Sea Biological using the BC Forage Fish Habitat Assessment Tool, forage fish beach restoration and long-fin smelt surveys. Partnerships include government agencies, municipal and regional districts, First Nations, community groups and universities.
