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By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press March 10. 2015 5:12PM Feds ban new commercial fishing for forage fish Although no West Coast fishing boats are contemplating new efforts to target forage fish, others do around the world. AP PHOTO. Federal fisheries managers on Tuesday unanimously adopted a West Coast ban on new commercial fisheries for forage fish, the little fish that big fish and seabirds depend on for food. The Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted the ban by unanimous vote while meeting in Vancouver, Washington. It now goes to the NOAA Fisheries Service for the development of regulations, which will take several months. Although no West Coast fishing boats are known to be contemplating new efforts to target forage fish, concern has been mounting that someone would start one to meet increasing demand for feed for aquaculture facilities and fish oil nutritional supplements for people, said Mike Burner, staff officer for the council. It is the council's first action under a new ecosystem approach to fisheries management. "The intent was not to change current practices, but prevent an uptick in the amount of removals," he said. Species covered by the ban include Pacific sand lance, silversides and certain varieties of herring, smelt and squid.  The ban does not affect existing fisheries for other types of herring, sardines and anchovies, and it comes on top of a similar ban on fishing for krill, a crustacean that is important food for salmon, seals and whales. Rod Moore of the West Coast Seafood Processors Association said the fishing industry shared the concerns of conservation groups and sport fishermen who wanted to be sure that forage fish were protected. Paul Shively of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a conservation group, said in a statement: "This marks a fundamental change from traditional management of ocean fishing to a more comprehensive approach." Geoff Shester of the conservation group Oceana said he hoped the ban would serve as a model for forage fish conservation in other waters. Burner said there were provisions for an applicant to seek permission to target forage fish, but any proposal would face tough requirements to show it would not harm the resource.   http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150310/News/150319940 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->