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OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will host meetings in June to discuss plans to survey public and private beaches around south Puget Sound for forage fish habitat.

The surveys are designed to determine where and when forage fish, such as surf smelt and Pacific sand lance, spawn in southern Puget Sound, said Phillip Dionne, WDFW research scientist.

"Forage fish play a critical role in the food web, providing nutrients for marine mammals, seabirds, salmon and even people," Dionne said. "We want to let landowners and beach-goers know our crews will be out on s...