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Surf Smelt - Biology
Name: Surf smelt,Hypomesus pretiosus
Geographic Range: Long Beach, California to Chignik Lagoon, Alaska. An Asian subspecies, Hypomesus pretiosus japonicus, is common in the western Pacific. Surf smelt occur throughout the marine waters of Washington, from the Columbia River to the Canadian border and southernmost Puget Sound. They are an abundant schooling forage fish living in the near shore community of Puget Sound. Although their movements within the sound are unknown, a number of genetically distinct stocks are thought to occur.
Like all other forage fish, surf smelt experience high predation levels as eggs, juveniles and adults. As a result the maximum life span of a surf smelt is thought to be 5 years. Adult surf smelt feed primarily on planktonic organisms, and in turn are food for many marine animals such as seabirds, marine mammals, and other fishes. The movements of juveniles and adults between spawning seasons is virtually unknown.
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