What Is a School of Fish?
Fish schools are groups of fish that stay together. Each school is made up of one kind, or species, of fish. Some species, like the mackerel, travel together in schools so large that a single school may cover several square miles of ocean.
Scientists think that swimming close together may reduce friction in the water and make it easier for fish to swim and conserve energy. Schools of fish line up with exact distances between each fish. They move and turn with great precision.
In a school, fish have more protection from enemies. When threatened, a school of fish scatters in all directions. This compels a hungry predator to choose which fish to pursue, giving the other members a chance to escape.