Location: Canada's Pacific marine areas and surrounding coastal areas of the Northeast Pacific and Bering Sea
Description: The purpose of this project is to track observations of unusual trends, patterns, and events related to 'forage fishes' in Canada's Pacific Marine Ecosystems and surrounding seas.
Background: 'Forage fishes' are small pelagic or neritic fish species with high production and mortality rates that make up important proportions of the diets of higher tropic level predators including other fishes, marine mammals, and birds. They are thus critical foundation species in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems.
Funding: Open invitation
Partners: Pending
Observing Guidance: Observers are asked to report any notable or unusual observations of forage fishes in Canada's Pacific. Detailed photos are encouraged in addition to information about the precise location and dates of the observations.
Source Data: Posts on the LEO Network and otherwise through Sea Watch or from other sources; observations submitted to staff at the Sea Watch Society.
Outputs: Contributed data will be added to LEO regional map and to timeline trends. Contributed data will potentially be used in published reports or papers.
Project Updates: Project updates may be provided in forthcoming LEO BC newsletters, regional ocean health reports, and through direct collaboration with project contributors.
Resources:
BC Forage Fish Atlas and Data Management System
Pelagic Fish of the Pacific Region
.
Lead Organization
Ocean Integrity Research |
Tom Okey LeadVictoria, British Columbia, Canada
Adjunct Associate Professor School of Environmental Studies
University of Victoria
|
Ramona de Graaf ConsultantNorth Cowichan British Columbia, Canada
Scientist-in-Charge forge fish
Sea Watch Society
|
No Sardine Fishing Off California This Year Due to Steep Population DeclineCalifornia's Coastal Ocean
Apr 16, 2019
KQED
Event
|
Abundant Herring RoeToksook Bay, Alaska, United States
Jun 6, 2014
Event
|
Large Decline in Pacific Herring StockStrait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada
Oct 29, 2019
The Narwhal
Background
|
Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii EarlyShaktoolik, Alaska, USA
May 15, 2014
Event
|
Lantern Fish (Stenobrachius leucopsarus)Haines, Alaska, United States
Feb 15, 2015
Event
|
Needle Fish Die-offKongiganak, Alaska, United States
Feb 20, 2015
Event
|
Black Fungus (phaeohyphomycoses) on SmeltKipnuk, Alaska, United States
Nov 14, 2015
Event
|
California anchovy (Engraulis mordax) schoolsTurnstall Bay, Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada
Jun 20, 2016
Event
|
Herring spawn on eelgrassCoal Port, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Apr 2, 2017
Event
|
Herring spawn near Lily PointNear Lily Point, Point Roberts, Washington, United States
Mar 25, 2017
Event
|
Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) in Port Moody ArmPort Moody Arm, British Columbia, Canada
Apr 28, 2017
Event
|
Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) spawning along west Seattle shorelineWest Seattle Beaches, Washington, United States
May 4, 2017
Event
|
Juvenile Sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) intertidal burrowingVictoria, British Columbia, Canada
Nov 3, 2016
Event
|
Sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) schoolIsland View Beach
Dec 1, 2016
Event
|
Juvenile Pacific Herring ball (Clupea pallasii)Henderson Point, North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Oct 10, 2016
Event
|
Mixed schools of Sandlance (Ammodytes personatus) and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Oct 2, 2016
Event
|
Surf smelt (Hypomesus prestiosus) school15m north of the Island View Beach boat ramp
Sep 28, 2016
Event
|
Large school of post-larval California anchovy (Engraulis mordax)Trincomali Channel, Valdes Island
Aug 23, 2016
Event
|
Juvenile Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) in southern coastal BCSouthern BC Waters
Sep 2, 2017
Event
|
Dead Little Fish After High WaterQuinhagak, Alaska, United States
Oct 18, 2017
Event
|
Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) in the Homathko RiverHomathko River
May 15, 2018
Event
|
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Targeting Forage Fish in Open WaterIsland View Beach, British Columbia, Canada
Jun 21, 2018
Event
|
Schools of California Anchovy (Engraulis mordax)Ross Bay, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Oct 6, 2019
Event
|