Forage Fish
feed the marine food chain
The work involves collecting sediment samples from beaches and looking for the tiny eggs under microscopes. Volunteers and Citizen Scientists have spent many hours on beaches and behind microscopes to help us with this important work and we are excited to share some results from our first sampling season!
Forage Fish
Where the Land Meets the Sea – The Nearshore
Suggested Grades: 4- 11
The World Wildlife Fund Publishes Forage Fish Information
The World Wildlife Fund has released a variety of resources for both professionals and citizen scientists researching forage fish. This includes a spawning survey guidance document, as well as QEP and Citizen Scientist sampling methodologies and data sheets.
NIC biology students helping with Project Watershed research
NIC biology students are getting a unique opportunity to help with an important forage fish research project, thanks to a partnership between NIC and Comox Valley Project Watershed.
How can you help?
- Fill in the Local Ecological Knowledge Questionnaire – online using google forms or using this pdf
- Send photos of beaches where you have seen forage fish in the past
- Share local knowledge over casual conversation and send the stories to Project Watershed (student.projectwatershed@gmail.com)
- Call Virginia East – Project Watershed’s Forage Fish Field and Research Assistant: 250-703-2871
Who can help us?
- Community members and elders from First Nations communities across Vancouver Island
- Local persons involved with the fishing industry (past or present)
- Local residents – are there beaches you like to walk where you notice particular activities at various times of the year (i.e. bird sightings)?
- Anyone interested in sharing knowledge on forage fish is welcome to contribute to our ongoing collection of local forage fish knowledge!
Funders
This work is funded by the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund and with support from the Pacific Salmon Foundation
