FORAGE FIRST!

Campaign Overview

THE PROBLEM

Simply put, large ocean predators aren’t finding enough prey to eat. Examples of prey species, or “forage,” in the US are krill, squid, herring, sardines, anchovies, menhaden, butterfish and alewives. Marine predators are competing with our fisheries for forage species and their prey are being removed from the oceans in increasing numbers. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that in our efforts to bring back dwindling populations of large predators, we’re not taking into account how much prey they need.

Fishery managers have long recognized the need to move beyond single-species management of fish stocks, where each species is managed in its own separate box, and look at the bigger picture, the ecosystem of which each is an inextricable part. In fact, specific recommendations were given to Congress and the Regional Fishery Management Councils in a special report authored by a NOAA Fisheries-appointed Ecosystems Principles Advisory Panel (EPAP). Most notably, the panel recognized that the move to ecosystem-based fishery management would need to be incremental and that managers should begin by considering predator-prey interactions affected by fishing. Seven years have past since the report was published, and this first step has yet to be taken.

We are already witnessing the repercussions from neglecting the EPAP’s advice. Single-species management is failing predators and their prey. From menhaden and striped bass (read about our Save the Stripers Campaign) to Atlantic herring and bluefin tuna, to pollock and Steller sea lions, cases of deteriorating predator/prey relationships are reported with increasing frequency in scientific journals and news articles around the country.

Evidence of malnourished predators, contrasted with forage fish assessments that, in most cases, characterize the populations as robust or “underutilized,” forces us to re-examine how we account for a healthy forage base in fishery management plans. As we work to rebuild depleted stocks of ocean predators such as marlin, cod, rockfish, sharks and tuna, it is imperative that we act now to allocate adequate forage for these recovering populations.

OUR SOLUTION

NCMC’s “Forage First!” Campaign was launched with the recent publication of our new report, Taking the Bait: Are America’s Fisheries Out-competing Predators for their Prey?  The report is a culmination of our efforts to encourage regional fishery management councils to protect predator-prey relationships as a first step toward an ecosystem-based approach to fishery management. We believe that protecting a forage base for predators is essential to managing fisheries in a sustainable manner. We have flagged three federal forage fish management plans that are currently in force, and within the report, make specific recommendations for changes that will help secure adequate prey for predators. The fishery management plans (FMPs) that we analyzed are:

• Atlantic Herring - managed by the New England Fishery Management Council
• Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish - managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
• Coastal Pelagic Species (northern anchovy, Pacific sardine, Pacific and jack mackerel, market squid and krill) – managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council

In September 2006, Taking the Bait was distributed to each member and staff of the above Regional Fishery Management Councils. Our goal is to work with the Councils and their committees to discuss our findings and advocate that our recommendations be adopted. We plan to present our report at upcoming Council meetings.

In addition to our work with the Councils, we are engaging in discussions with the fishing and environmental communities to create a multi-faceted strategy that combines public awareness, education, research, and policy reform to put Forage First!

WHO WE ARE

Since 1973, the National Coalition for Marine Conservation (NCMC) has worked to promote sustainable fisheries that balance commercial, recreational, and ecological values. To this end, we have been integrally involved in the move towards ecosystem-based approaches to fishery management, working on every level within the government to advance our objectives.

• In 1997 NCMC President Ken Hinman was appointed to represent the conservation community on NOAA Fisheries’ Ecosystem Principles Advisory Panel (EPAP).

• In 1999 we hosted an intensive 2-day workshop as a follow-up to the EPAP's report recommending that predator-prey relationships be a priority consideration in fishery management.

• In 2000 NCMC published the findings and recommendations from the workshop as
  " Conservation in a Fish-Eat-Fish World," a reference frequently cited in publications discussing ecosystem-based fishery management.

Recent Actions at the Regional Council Level

• From 2003 to its completion in 2007, we provided input for Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, which protects herring in an ecologically-important nearshore area.
  
  

• Starting in 2006, NCMC has supported the Pacific Council's proposed ban on a commercial krill fishery and are currently working to see that the ban overcomes hurdles to implementation that have been posed by the White House.

• In 2007-2008, we are co-sponsoring a series of regional forage fish workshops covering issues on the West Coast, Gulf of Mexico and in the Mid-Atlantic.

• Starting in 2006 and continuing into 2008, we have been following the Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification process for the Gulf of California, Mexico sardine fishery.  Read more.
  
  

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Read the latest update on our efforts to conserve forage fish.

Be sure to check our publication released August 2006:  Taking the Bait -- Are America's Fisheries Out-Competing Predators for their Prey?

Get more background on this issue.

Donate to our "Conserving Marine Ecosystems" program.

Download our Forage First! Fish File, an educational fact sheet.