Back to the Basics: Defining Forage Species to Prevent a Management Crisis

Forage species actually include an array of fish and invertebrates that range in size, life span, and habitat preferences. However, they are commonly defined in scientific and popular literature as small (<30 cm total length) pelagic fish at intermediate trophic levels that are relatively short­lived (1­-2 years). This incomplete definition can lead to confusion among stakeholders (e.g. industry, fisheries managers, scientists, environmental NGOs, and policy makers), further complicating the management of these species. This study aimed to better define what forage species ARE and ARE NOT in order to prevent a potential crisis in how we identify and manage these species in the future. Two approaches were used to develop an operational definition of forage species, including 1) a literature search to explore the diversity of scientific definitions and to find common ground, and 2) a search of the attributes of forage species using FishBase and other sources. The results suggest that future definitions of forage species should focus less on characteristics related to taxonomy, size, life span, and habitat, and more on if they are providing a critical role as prey in marine ecosystems.