Forage Fish

To have healthy sportfish populations, there must first be a healthy food base. Simply put, big fish need plenty of little fish to eat.

The smaller fish in the ocean, known as forage fish, provide food for nearly all recreationally important fish species, as well as seabirds and other marine life. Not to mention, they are also extremely valuable to our industry. Forage fish like shad, menhaden, and herring attract anglers from around the nation for their runs, with sections of the sportfishing industry catering to anglers who target these species. Without them, larger fish would be unable to survive, and a significant party of the sportfishing industry would struggle to make sales.

Unfortunately, demand for these nutrient-rich populations, which are used to make fertilizer, feed for livestock and farmed fish, and products such as cosmetics, continues to skyrocket worldwide. Despite these growing threats, regulations providing for the conservation of forage fish populations have failed to keep up, and serious signs of population decline are on the rise.

Now more than ever, the American Sportfishing Association is prioritizing the protection of forage fish through our work with Congress and state legislatures. During this session, we will ensure that forage fish populations receive the support they need to fuel our fisheries for years to come.

On June 4, 2025, the recreational fishing and boating community applauded the reintroduction of the Forage Fish Conservation Act of 2025 by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL). The bipartisan legislation would require federal fisheries managers to account for the role forage fish play in the marine ecosystem when catch limits are set on these small but important fish.

The bill would accomplish this goal in several ways. Most notably, this bill would require the completion of a population assessment prior to allowing forage fish to be targeted by new commercial fisheries. Additionally, it would consider predator species numbers when determining the annual catch limit for forage fish. Finally, this legislation would ensure that decisions governing forage fish populations are reached through sound science while accurately reflecting the needs of existing fisheries.

Following the introduction of the Forage Fish Conservation Act to Congress, ASA voiced support for the legislation. Mike Leonard, VP of Government Affairs noted, “Forage fish are critical to the ocean food web, and conserving their populations is essential to sustaining healthy sportfish populations.” Throughout this session, ASA will continue to advocate for the protection of forage fish populations, and we hope to see this legislation enacted soon.