E E Those of us who
have been fishing
longer than we can
remember are always
looking for that catch of
lifetime, a monster that
pushes our skills to the
limit. That is one of
the things that keep us
coming back. However,
we need to recognize that these tro-
phies get big by consuming lots of little
fish. For years, we have asked managers
to recognize the value of forage fish.
Anyone who has studied marine
biology knows the trophic pyramid is
basic to learning about the ocean en-
vironment. The wide base represents
plankton that feed a variety of fi lter
feeders, such as menhaden, herring,
anchovies, shad, smelt, capelin and
shrimp. Historically, these species
have been numerous because they have
an important function in feeding all
those above them on the pyramid. As
one works up the pyramid, the apex
predators become less numerous and
generally larger than those below them.
Most involved in fi shery manage-
ment understand the trophic pyramid.
With that in mind, it is hard to under-
stand why management of the forage
base has been so diffi cult to accomplish.
A few species have been managed, but
mostly because they had value for hu-
man consumption or in another fi shery.Atlantic herring and menhaden are
prime examples. The part that usually
seems to be lacking in the management
scheme for these forage fi sh is their val-
ue to other species. We give a quota to
those catching herring and menhaden,
but managers fi rst need to set aside a
quota for all the species that depend on
the forage.
What would happen if the unman-
aged species became the target of
reduction fi sheries, which use the prod-
uct for livestock and aquaculture feed?
How long would it be until those stocks22 SALTWATERSPORTSMAN.COM SEPTEMBER 2019
TOD/ CONSERVATION
The Value of Little Fish
Healthy fi sheries mean more than one species.
UNSUNG HEROES: A healthy forage
base remains the foundation of an
abundant fi shery.Rip
Cunningham
Gamefi sh abun-
dance requires
a complete
ecosystem.ILLUSTRATIONBYJOHNW.^ T
OMAC