Atlantic Menhaden Commercial Limits Set and Plans for the Future
After nearly 5 years, a move has been made to help preserve the stocks of Atlantic menhaden in Delaware and Chesapeake Bay. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) composed of 15 Atlantic coastal states has decided to cap the commercial harvest of Atlantic menhaden starting in 2006. This cap will be established annually from 2006-2010. The cap, 182,475 metric tons, is based on the average previous five years. Any amount over the cap will be deducted from the following year’s quota. In addition, the commission has begun a research program to determine the menhaden population in the bay, the amount of menhaden consumed by predators and assess the interrelationship of menhaden and other popular sport fish such as the striped bass.
Atlantic menhaden are a small oily fish which have an important economically and ecologically value. Characteristically, they are very numerous and form large, dense schools. They play an important role in the health of marine ecosystems up and down the Atlantic Coast . These same fish provide a vital source of food for a wide variety of fish and birds and marine mammal species. In the Chesapeake Bay, these fish are the principle filter feeders of the bay waters, second only to oysters.
The NYSCC will be continuing its work to bring you up to date information on this matter. We will be including a questionnaire requesting your input on the management of river and coastal fishery in a future issue of its Grass Roots News. The questions will relate to not only the fisheries but to other matters as highlighted from the federal hearings and recent workshops conducted from within the scientific community to gather your grass root opinions on this matter.
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