The nearshore ecosystem is the interface between freshwater, air, land and the marine waters. This highly productive and diverse area extends from the forest edge as far as the sunlight can support underwater vegetation.

The zones illustrated here interact to create a complicated, but rich and vital ecosystem. The marine (or upland) riparian areas (trees, shrubs, grasses) provide shade for flora and fauna on the beach, and also provide a source of insects for key fish species.

The backshore, also referred to by some as the foreshore, is that area that helps to prevent erosion, provide spawning areas for various forage fish, and helps absorb energy from storms and flooding.

The intertidal is a zone most explored by people. Depending on the substrate, or type of “soil” a variety of marine vegetation can be found here including eelgrass. For example, if it is a gravel or cobble beach the vegetation will be sparse and often include plants like sea lettuce, or fucus. If it is sand or mud, then eelgrass can be found.

Different types of vegetation support certain types of life in the intertidal zone. Eelgrass beds especially are known as a key piece of the ecosystem, vital as a nursery area for many species such as sea stars, flounder, crabs and as protection from predation and drying out for others like juvenile salmon. 80% of the species in our commerical and shellfish industries depend on eelgrass at some point in their life cycle. Eelgrass also stabilizes the shoreline.

The subtidal is that area that is always underwater, and vegetation extends to depths that light can penetrate to allow growth. Eelgrass and kelps are common in this zone and provide a rich habitat for many species including crabs, salmon, and hunting grounds for various marine mammals.

What are Forage Fish and Why Should I Care?

Forage fish are small fish that are eaten by larger fish, marine birds and some mammals. Forage fish in our region include Pacific herring, Surf smelt, Sand lance, juvenile salmon, and other small fish.

Because these species are key to many food webs, it is vital that we learn what we can about them and protect their habitat in order to support our commercial fisheries, tourism industry, and quality of life.

Also, by mapping where forage fish populations spawn, we can gather some indication of the health of the nearshore ecosystem.

Information regarding spawning habits and locations of sand lance and surf smelt, in particular, is limited, because there has been no commercial fishery in British Columbia. Many forage fish species, like other fish, have specific types of habitat that they inhabit and spawn in. This means that they are very susceptible to changes in their habitat, often created by people.

Sand lance and Surf smelt are especially vulnerable to human impact because they spawn and spend time in the upper intertidal area of sandy beaches. In urban areas, this zone is often heavily armoured by land owners and local governments attempting to control natural beach processes that can cause erosion.

The armouring of a shoreline can alter the current from a movement along the shore, to a strong digging action face-on to the beach. This change in current can result in the direct loss of spawning sites for sand lance and smelt. Once gone, the restoration of that habitat would be either impossible or too costly to imagine.

The Seagrass Conservation Working Group has begun to train its member communities to map the potential habitat for key species such as sand lance and surf smelt. By knowing where the habitat is, and identifying specific spawning beaches, communities can better plan for a healthy nearshore.