Forage Fish FAQ
![Key to a healthy food web: Forage fish](/-/media/data-visualizations/infographics/2013/forage_fish_faq_infographic.jpg)
Small schooling species such as sardines, sauries, and smelt—commonly known as forage fish—play a critical role in sustaining a vibrant Pacific Ocean. These species eat tiny plants and animals, in turn becoming an important food source for bigger fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.