Summary Near-shore shallow-water habitats are home to a range of fish species, including juveniles that seek refuge from predators in open water as well as resident species that forage in the surf zone on fish and invertebrate prey. Surfperch play a major link in trophic transfer in the near-shore: their diet consists of isopods, amphipods, copepods, molluscs, and polychaete worms. They in turn are prey for larger fish, such as kelp bass, California halibut, sturgeon, rockfish and salmon, as well as harbor seals and birds. Surfperch and surf smelt are both subject to fishing pressure and surfperch may be in decline in California. Focal species: Surfperch and surf smelt General Information Sustainability Goal Goal 5. Protect and enhance environmental conditions by improving watershed, floodplain, and aquatic condition and processes. Domain Ecosystem Health = The condition of natural system, including terrestrial systems interacting with aquatic systems through runoff pathways.
