Forage Fish Surveys

Every winter, forage fish take to South Puget Sound beaches in droves for a massive annual spawning event that will last several months.

SPSSEG and the Nisqually Indian Tribe (NIT) launched a forage fish study in 2006-2007. SPSSEG and the NIT conducted these studies along a particular shoreline in South Puget Sound. Dan Pentilla, WDFW biologist, provided SPSSEG with training, equipment, and technical support.

This survey was undertaken to inform the WRIA 11/12 Nearshore Assessment. SPSSEG’s work has served to support and expand WDFW’s database of documented forage fish spawning beaches. For more information on forage fish, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/marine_beach_spawning/