Local anglers know the importance of baitfish to their angling success. While they might not know the science behind the need for maintaining a healthy abundance, they know that every fish they seek in local waters depends on them. Many local guides rely on these forage fish for their daily catch as well.

The Florida Forage Fish Coalition is a group of concerned individuals and organizations that understands the importance of forage species such as anchovies, menhaden, sardines, herring, ballyhoo and pinfish to the health of the marine food chain. Their mission is to make the public and elected officials aware of the significance. Forage fish are critical food sources of species such as cobia, tarpon, snook, redfish, king mackerel, sailfish, and spotted sea trout. They are also important to marine wildlife (seabirds) and support jobs and recreational opportunities throughout Florida. The coalition points out that measures to protect these species are essential to preserve the legacy of Florida as the “Fishing Capital of the World.”

The intent is to rally support for measures that will help to maintain sufficient abundance to insure the needs of fish and other wildlife by setting manageable limits on the harvest of forage fish. Partners in the coalition include the International Game Fish Association, the Florida Wildlife Federation and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

The International Gamefish Association is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rulemaking and record keeping.

The Florida Wildlife Association is a private, statewide, non-profit citizens' conservation education organization composed of thousands of concerned Floridians and other citizens from all walks of life who have a common interest in preserving, managing, and improving Florida's fish, wildlife, soil, water, and plant life.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is “driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. The Pew Charitable Trusts is an independent nonprofit organization – the sole beneficiary of seven individual trusts established between 1948 and 1979 by two sons and two daughters of Sun Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew.”

For non-anglers who are not familiar with forage fish, they are composed of small fishes that have short life spans and typically mature early. Found mostly in large schools they all have similar life cycles. Their importance in the marine food chain cannot be overestimated because they represent the first link in most marine food webs. They feed on small plant and animal matter which they transfer to the higher level prey species on which recreational anglers as well as commercial anglers and wildlife depend. Because of their vital importance as food for larger fish, managers need to have the critical information to make sure they remain self-sustaining.

Surprisingly, forage fish make up almost 30 percent globally of all marine fish harvested annually. The vast majority, approximately 90 percent are used for aquaculture, food for livestock, as well as nutritional supplements for people. In Florida waters forage fish make up a much smaller but significant 20 percent of commercial catches.

In local waters the most important and well known of these species include pilchards (also known as scaled sardines), threadfin herring, pinfish, Spanish sardines and striped mullet. It is important that the public and resource managers know the importance of these species and that measures are put in place to assure their continued abundance. That’s to everyone’s advantage: anglers, environmentalists, the public and commercial interests alike. For more information on the coalition visit www.floridaforagefish.org.