Late in the year, the menhaden reduction industry gained ground at dismantling hard-fought conservation wins for coastal ecosystems and sportfish populations. Where does that leave us now?

For our usual year-end forage fish wrap up, we decided this year to dive into the latest alarming menhaden regulatory decisions, what they mean, and let you know how you can continue to engage decision-makers to try to save the hard-fought, science-based wins that our angling and conservation community has worked so hard to put in place.

Atlantic Overview

As we reported two months ago, the Menhaden Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted in late October to cut the 2026 Atlantic menhaden quota by a mere 20 percent. This may sound like a lot, and while it is a moderate decrease, a revised stock assessment showed the menhaden population size is more than one-third lower than previously estimated, and that a cut of over 50 percent is necessary to ensure there are enough of these critical forage fish available in the water to support rebuilding the Atlantic striped bass population.

The decision to adopt a token reduction in the Atlantic menhaden catch quota disregards the science and input from ASMFC’s own scientists.

The Board also chose to only set the new quota for one year, rather than the full three years consistent with how the ecosystem-based framework is designed. This decision to adopt a token reduction in the coastwide quota disregards the science and input from ASMFC’s own scientists, abandons the Commission’s own ecosystem-based management framework, and undermines public trust in the ASMFC’s management decisions. In addition, even with this decrease in quota, it will likely not decrease coastwide harvest, negating the presumed conservation benefits that the cut could have.

From our perspective, the ASMFC’s decision:

1. Ignored the best available science in the stock assessment update, which showed that the Atlantic menhaden population is 37 percent lower than previously estimated, and that for years fewer forage fish have been in the water for predators to eat.

2. Abandoned the Commission’s own Ecological Reference Point (ERP) management framework, which indicated that even a quota cut of more than 50 percent would achieve only a 50/50 chance of not exceeding the ERP fishing mortality target. (See our earlier blog for an explanation of ERPs.)

3. Allowed one company operating in one state – Omega Protein, in Virginia – to overtly influence the coastwide decision-making process in their favor, to the detriment of not only the ecosystem, but other Atlantic states’ bait industries as well.

4. Disregarded the overwhelming majority of the public who commented in favor of a new quota that would have maintained the integrity of the ecosystem-based menhaden management framework (more than 1,100 opposition comments were generated through TRCP alone).

On a positive note, because this was only a one-year decision, TRCP will push for additional quota reductions in 2026 and 2027. Also, the Board did finally choose to initiate a process to address Chesapeake Bay menhaden management. Early next year, it will consider options for quota periods to distribute menhaden removals more evenly throughout the fishing season, as well as options to reduce the Bay’s reduction fishing cap, ranging from status quo to a 50 percent decrease.

The cap was put in place nearly two decades ago as a precautionary measure to protect predator diet needs in the Chesapeake, but due to industry opposition, efforts to gather data to justify any updates to the cap have been stymied. This process could yield significant benefits to the Bay ecosystem, which has faced multiple concerns recently tied to menhaden, including osprey breeding failures due to chick starvation.

What’s Next for Atlantic Menhaden?

In February 2026, or at the latest, by next summer, the ASMFC should publish the draft addendum for public comment regarding Chesapeake Bay management. It’s imperative that you participate in that public process by submitting comments virtually or in-person at future public hearings. The TRCP and partners will be fully engaged in advocating for options that conserve menhaden for its environmental role in the Bay to sustain striped bass, osprey, and other predators – and we will be sure to provide more information on how you can take action next year.

Gulf Overview

As we reported last month, after facing intense industry pressure, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted to proceed with a Notice of Intent (NOI) that is slated to reduce a half-mile buffer zone for industrial menhaden fishing off Louisiana’s coast to just a quarter-mile in most locations. This change could allow industrial menhaden harvest in waters as shallow as five feet—undoing a compromise reached in 2024 between anglers, conservation groups, the menhaden industry, and state officials. After a one-month public comment period, the NOI will move to natural resource committees in the state legislature for approval, where lawmakers have the ability to reject the proposed changes.

After a half-mile buffer restricting industrial menhaden fishing near Louisiana’s coast was put in place, fish-kill incidents declined by 81 percent.

The current buffer was established following multiple fish spills caused by menhaden harvest nearshore in 2023, with torn or overfilled nets wasting over 2.5 million menhaden and killing thousands of breeding-size redfish that washed up on public beaches. We calculated that after that buffer was put in place in 2024, fish-kill incidents declined by 81 percent in 2024-2025, compared to historical averages.

Also, a 2024 study found that approximately 150 million non-target fish are caught as bycatch each year by the menhaden industry, including 30,000 redfish and hundreds of thousands of other predators like spotted seatrout (speckled trout), black drum, and jack crevalle, as well as 25-million-plus sand seatrout, commonly called white trout. The Commission’s decision in November completely ignored this disturbing information, undermining public trust in Louisiana’s fisheries management. This move threatens fragile coastal habitats and fish populations in Sportsman’s Paradise and risks reversing the gains we have made to protect the forage fish base in the Gulf, which supports key sportfish populations and nearshore ecosystems.

What’s Next for Gulf Menhaden?

From now through Jan. 23, 2026 this NOI will be open for public comment that will be considered by the LWFC. Comments can be submitted directly to Jason Adriance, LDWF’s finfish program manager, or using the TRCP’s action alert system HERE.

Take action by telling the LWFC not to roll back the buffers:

TRCP also is providing another means to potentially reverse the NOI decision. You can sign a separate alert targeting state lawmakers asking them to reject the NOI.

Take action by urging lawmakers to reject the NOI:

We need your help by signing both alerts to let lawmakers and the Commission know that you oppose any rollbacks to the current buffer zones, to protect Louisiana’s nearshore ecosystems and public fisheries. We cannot let the menhaden industry bully the LWFC and Commissioners into making management decisions solely for their benefit. The Commission cannot responsibly abdicate its responsibility to serve all the people and natural resources of Louisiana.

Thank You for Your Support

Only together can we ultimately achieve long-term menhaden conservation to support recreational fishing and healthy coastal ecosystems. We appreciate your ongoing and necessary support. As always, feel free to reach out to our team at any time.

Banner image courtesy Joanna Steidle