It's not popular with fishermen or diners, but the humble smelt could easily become the next target of overfishing anyway. Environmentalists rightly worry that Pacific smelt and other forage fish may get overfished in the name of aquaculture.
In other words, fish farmers may snatch them up to feed the fish--like salmon and tuna--that end up on our dinner plates.
Meanwhile, forage fish play a critical role in the oceanic ecosystem. Foragers eat plankton and, in turn, become a meal for bigger fish.
Environmentalists have petitioned the Pacific Fisheries Management Council to write a sustainable harvest plan for forage fish that will allow fishing while protecting several species from getting fished out. Tell the Council you support a sustainable plan for forage fish!
We the undersigned ask that you come up with a good, sustainable plan for fishing smelt and other forage fish, popular as fish food for aquaculture. It's true these are not high profile fish, popular with fishermen or aquariums. But they are and will continue to be an important part of the Pacific coast's emerging aquaculture industry. A few well written regulations will ensure continued populations of these fish so that they can continue to play a vital role in the Pacific ecosystem and in our fisheries.
