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EveryFish

Schooling

Swimming in a tight, coordinated group, which helps fish avoid predators, find food and save energy.

A diagram drawn by EveryFish.

Also: school of fish

In a school, each fish follows simple rules: stay close to your neighbours, match their speed and direction, but do not collide. Vision and the lateral line keep each fish in place. Schooling confuses predators, which find it hard to pick out one target among many flashing bodies, and it means more eyes watch for danger. Fish towards the back of a school can also save energy in the swirls left by those ahead. Purse seine fishing exploits schooling, and sonar finds schools from a boat.

See also

Shoal and school Bait ball Purse seine

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