Striped Anchovies

• Striped anchovies are found in the western Atlantic and the northern Gulf of Mexico. These fish average less than 4 inches in length and primarily feed on insects and zooplankton. Anchovies form dense schools and predominantly live in shallow coastal waters, where zooplankton populations are abundant. Anchovies are a significant food source for larger predatory fish, including the yellowtail, California halibut and coho salmon.
  
  

Shellfish

• Shellfish are exoskeleton-bearing invertebrates that eat plankton in the Gulf of Mexico. Molluscs and crustacean species are among the most common shellfish. Clams, oysters, mussels and scallops capture and eat floating phytoplankton and zooplankton in shallow waters.
  
  

Krill

• Krill are shrimplike crustaceans found in the Gulf of Mexico. They average about 2 inches in length and are an integral part of the region's food chain. Krill eat microscopic phytoplankton and are eaten by larger fish and birds. Baleen whales also feed on large amounts of krill. Without krill, a large percentage of oceanic life would cease to exist. Scientists estimate that the combined weight of Antarctic krill (the largest krill species) is greater than the combined weight of all humans. The presence of krill is absolutely vital to the sustainability of marine life in the Gulf of Mexico.
  
  

Whale Sharks

• Whale sharks are considered the largest fish of the sea. They can reach lengths of 40 feet or more. Whale sharks primarily eat plankton through a process known as filter feeding. They suck in water when their mouths are open and filter it through gills when their mouths are closed. Plankton and small fish become trapped and end up being eaten. Because whale sharks prefer warm waters, they tend to stay in tropical areas like the Gulf of Mexico.