Canada's forage fish: an important but poorly understood component of marine ecosystems

Forage fish form a critical trophic link in marine ecosystems, and yet, for many species, there is limited information available. As nations move from single species stock assessments to ecosystem approaches to fisheries management (EAFMs), more information on forage fish will be required. In this s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 2022-11, Vol.79 (11), p.1911-1933
Main Authors: Boldt, Jennifer L, Murphy, Hannah M, Chamberland, Jean-Martin, Debertin, Allan, Gauthier, Stephane, Hackett, Brooke, Hagel, Paige S, Majewski, Andrew R, McDermid, Jenni L, Merette, David, Robinson, Cliff L.K, Rooper, Christopher N, Sherbo, Bryanna, Van Beveren, Elisabeth, Walkusz, Wojciech
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Cartography
Distribution
Ecosystems
Environmental aspects
Fish
Fish industry
Fisheries
Fisheries management
Fishery management
Forage
Foraging behavior
Growth
Life history
Marine ecosystems
Marine fish
Migratory species
Oceans
Species
Varieties
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Forage fish form a critical trophic link in marine ecosystems, and yet, for many species, there is limited information available. As nations move from single species stock assessments to ecosystem approaches to fisheries management (EAFMs), more information on forage fish will be required. In this study, 50 years of scientific literature were systematically mapped for 11 forage fish species in Canada's Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans. The objectives were to identify (1) knowledge clusters and gaps and (2) the pressures studied in relation to forage fish outcomes. Of the 2897 articles mapped, the majority studied adults and the distribution, productivity, growth, and life history of commercially fished species. Knowledge gaps were identified for forage fish: (1) that were noncommercially exploited; (2) egg and larval life history stages of most species and juveniles of noncommercial species; (3) diets of most species; (4) migration and performance for all species and survival of noncommercial species; and (5) the effects of some pressures (e.g., large-scale climate pressures). Addressing these knowledge gaps would improve the application of EAFMs.
ISSN:0706-652X
1205-7533
DOI:10.1139/cjfas-2022-0060