Fish form bait balls for a variety of reasons, including protection from predators, finding food, and avoiding being eaten. Bait balls are a defensive tactic used by fish to protect themselves from predators. When a predator approaches, the fish will quickly form a tight ball with their bodies and swim in unison. This makes it difficult for the predator to single out one fish as its prey.
Bait balls can also be used to find food. When small fish gather together in a bait ball, they can create an area of turbulence that attracts plankton and other small organisms that make up their diet. The bait ball then acts as a feeding station for the fish, allowing them to feed on the organisms that have been attracted by the turbulence created by the bait ball.
Finally, bait balls can be used as an escape mechanism when being pursued by predators. By forming a tight ball with their bodies, the fish can move quickly and efficiently through the water while making it difficult for predators to target individual fish. This allows them to escape from potential danger and survive another day.
Bait balls are an important defensive tactic used by many species of fish in order to protect themselves from predators, find food, and avoid being eaten. By forming tight groups with their bodies and swimming in unison, they are able to increase their chances of survival in an often dangerous underwater environment.