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This data shows confirmed surf smelt spawning habitat. Forage fish are small, schooling fish that provide a crucial link in the food chain between zooplankton and larger marine predators, such as salmon and marine mammals. Two forage fish species, Pacific sand lance and surf smelt, spawn in the high intertidal on a specific mixture of sand and small gravel. At least two eggs of a species must be found within the sediment sample for a site to be confirmed as a spawning beach. Forage fish spawning habitat surveys have been conducted monthly since October 2012 in the Aquatic Reserves. This is preliminary data. For comprehensive Washington state data, please visit the WDFW website. http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/marine_beach_spawning/ |