The most important fish in the sea

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

It is certainly not the only fish in the sea that eats vegetable matter and turns it into protein, there are literally thousands of species that do the exact same thing...

There is precious little "decomposing vegetable matter" in the water. what little there is is washed in from land and the menhaden eats none of it..

If there are thousand of species converting vegetable matter to protein they why is there so precious little?
Oh, Name a few species of fish in the coastal inshore area of the US that eat plants only.

Originally Posted by MakoMike

As for I don't want to get religious but personally this is one of those fish (similar to the squid but with a kicker...) that I view that God put on this earth in vast numbers to support the large biomass of fish on this planet." the fact is that vast majority of the earth's biomass of fish never come in contact with a menhaden, so they have no opportunity to eat one. .

Don't be a wise ass. That isn't what I intended to imply and you know it. It is important to the east coast and in particular SB and....... awe %$%$%$%$ it! I have had enough of this $hit. It's like talking to another commercial fishermen hell bent on getting "his" share.


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[Fish_Eye]

This steamer was heading to the oil and GUANO factory in Tiverton.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

If there are thousand of species converting vegetable matter to protein they why is there so precious little?

Because there are thousands of organisms eating it!

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

, Name a few species of fish in the coastal inshore area of the US that eat plants only.

Almost all of the Blennies, Tangs, damsels, chromis, parrotfish and those are off the top of my head. Also don't leave out the shellfish, many of which either exclusively or non-exclusively feed on phytoplankton and or macro algae.

I'm not a commercial fisherman and have nothing to gain from the exploitation of menhaden or the lack thereof. I'm just trying to bring some rationality to this conversation.