Shoaling offers numerous benefits to individual fish, including increased success in finding food, access to potential mates, and increased protection from predators. With respect to food acquisition, it has been shown that fish in shoals find food faster and spend more time actually feeding.

Why do fish swarm together in a shoal?

Any group of fish that stays together for social reasons is said to be shoaling, and if the shoal is swimming in the same direction together, it is schooling. ... Fish get many benefits from shoaling. These include defence against predators: if fish swim in schools, it is less likely any one of them will be eaten.

How do fish shoal?

When fish, shrimp or other aquatic creatures swim together in a loose cluster, this is typically called a shoal. It can be a mix of different species. ... Fish probably do this to confuse predators and to save energy (by using the 'slipstreams' of other fish).