A paper published this week in the journal Fish and Fisheries synthesizes current knowledge on the role of sand lances in the Northwest Atlantic ecosystem and describes implications for conservation and management. Sand lances are sometimes referred to as “quintessential forage fish” and are important prey for a variety of fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. Sand lances are among the more than 50 previously unmanaged taxa included in the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment. This amendment implemented the first commercial possession limit for sand lance, and many other previously unmanaged forage species, in Mid-Atlantic federal waters. The paper, linked below, highlights the work of the Mid-Atlantic Council to protect these important species.
Press release from the University of Massachusetts Amherst: At the Base of the Food Chain, a Small Fish Should Command Greater Notice, Researchers Say