Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, supports one of the most important and productive fisheries on the Atlantic coast. It is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, which has been shown to cut risks of heart disease and possibly other diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Menhaden is also used by fishermen as bait to catch popular commercial and sport fish. The species also plays in important role in marine ecosystems as both a forage fish to larger predators and a filter feeder. The latest stock assessment information, updated in 2006, indicates that Atlantic menhaden are not overfished and overfishing is not occurring on a coastwide basis.

In 2004, the Commission approved Addendum I of Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. This plan put in place biological reference points currently used to manage the fishery in a manner that is biologically, economically, socially, and ecologically sound.

Addendum III, approved in October 2006, establishes a five-year annual cap on reduction fishery harvests in Chesapeake Bay of 109,020 metric tons, a number derived from the average of harvests from 2001 – 2005. The cap will be implemented in 2006 and extend through 2010. Harvest for reduction purposes will be prohibited in the Chesapeake Bay when 100% of the cap is landed. Over-harvest in any given year would be deducted from the next year’s quota. The Addendum also includes a provision allowing under-harvest in one year to be credited only to the following year’s harvest, not to exceed 122,740 metric tons. Addendum IV, approved in November 2009, extends the Chesapeake Bay reduction harvest cap from 2011 through 2013.

As an important prey species, menhaden is also one of four fish (bluefish, weakfish and striped bass) currently being used to investigate the potential impacts of predator-prey interactions on marine fishery resources. Through the use of multispecies assessment models, the Commission has begun to quantify and explain the important relationship between forage fish and predators, with the ulitmate goal of improving our understanding and management of both.<species profile> <stock status> <habitat fact sheet>

Contacts

• Braddock Spear, FMP Coordinator
• Management Board
  • Chair, A.C. Carpenter
• Technical Committee
  • Chair, Alexei Sharov
• Advisory Panel
  • Chair, Bill Windley

Management Plans & Actions

• Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden
  • Addendum I (August 2004)
  • Addendum II (October 2005)
  • Technical Addendum I (February 2006)
  • Addendum III (October 2006)
  • Addendum IV (November 2009)

* Previous plans and addenda can be found at Fishery Management Reports

Upcoming Meetings

3/8 - 12:
SouthEast Data and Assessment Review Workshop, Atlantic Croaker and Atlantic Menhaden (SEDAR 20), Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Boulevard, North Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, please contact Patrick Campfield.

Reports

• FMP Reviews NEW: 2009 2008 2007 2005 2004 2003 2002 2000
• Stock Assessment Reports 2006 2003 2002 2001
  • Terms of Reference & Advisory Report for the Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Peer Review (October 2003)
  • Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review (October 2003)
  • Terms of Reference & Advisory Report for the Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Peer Review (February 1999)
• Atlantic Menhaden Workshop Proceedings (December 2004)
• Collection of Baseline Sociological Data to Describe the Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) Fishery (February 2004)
• NEW: State-by-State Regulations
  

Pending Actions for Public Input

Meeting & Minutes Summaries

Atlantic Menhaden Board Proceedings (May 2009)

Press Releases

Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Addendum to Extend Menhaden Reduction Fishery Cap for 3 Years (November 4, 2009)

States Schedule Public Hearings on Menhaden Draft Addendum IV (September 10, 2009)

Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Draft Addendum IV for Public Comment (August 19, 2009)

Atlantic Menhaden Board Initiates Addendum to Extend Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Harvest Cap to 2013 (May 6, 2009)

Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Addendum III: Addendum Caps Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery at 109,020 MT (October 25, 2006)

VA, MD & NJ Schedule Hearings on Menhaden Draft Addendum III (September 7, 2006)

Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Draft Addendum III for Public Comment: Addendum Proposes Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap of 109,020 MT (August 16, 2006)

ASMFC Board Approves Addendum II to the Atlantic Menhaden FMP: Addendum Caps Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery at 5-Year Average & Initiates Research Program to Assess the Status of Menhaden in the Bay (August 17, 2005)

States Schedule Public Meetings to Gather Comment on Draft Addendum II to the Atlantic Menhaden FMP (May 27, 2005)

Draft Addendum II to the Atlantic Menhaden FMP Approved for Public Comment: States to Conduct Public Meetings this Summer (May 11, 2005)

ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Board Initiates Development of Addendum II (February 9, 2005)

ASMFC Explores New Course for Atlantic Menhaden Management (November 9, 2004)

ASMFC to Hold AtlanticMenhaden Workshop to Address Ecological Role (September 10, 2004)

ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Addendum 1 (August 18, 2004)

States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Menhaden Addendum I (June 10, 2004)

ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Addendum I for Public Comment (May 26, 2004)

ASMFC Initiates Development of Addendum I to the Atlantic Menhaden Plan (March 12, 2004)