New petition and video call for more equitable Atlantic menhaden commercial catch allocations to East Coast states as the ASMFC considers initiating a reallocation process in November

Atlantic menhaden are one of the most important fish on the East Coast. They feed striped bass, bluefish, tuna, whales, ospreys, and countless other predators. They provide bait for commercial fisheries harvesting lobster and crab as well as for recreational fisheries, sustaining coastal economies from Maine to Florida.

But while New England’s stake in the menhaden fishery has grown, the system used to allocate harvest access among Atlantic states has remained largely unchanged.

That’s why the TRCP has launched a new petition and companion video calling on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to establish a more equitable allocation of Atlantic menhaden catch quota when it considers reallocation this November.

Fueling Marine Food Webs, Fishing Economies

Atlantic menhaden are often called the “most important fish in the sea” because they serve as a critical base for the marine food web. Healthy menhaden populations support some of the Atlantic coast’s most iconic recreational and commercial fisheries, while providing essential forage for marine predators.

In recent years, menhaden have become increasingly abundant in New England waters, possibly due to climate change, migration patterns, or other factors. Regardless of the cause, as a result of more menhaden (or “bunker”) in the region, anglers are seeing more striped bass and tuna feeding on the large schools. Whales are appearing closer to shore. And commercial bait fisheries are benefiting from greater availability of this important resource.

This shift matters beyond fishing opportunities. Where menhaden are available determines where predators can feed, from striped bass and bluefish to humpback whales and seabirds. Yet despite these changes, harvest access remains concentrated in a system built around historical fishing patterns from decades ago.

A Quota System Out of Step with Today’s Fishery

For nearly two decades, the ASMFC’s state allocation system for the menhaden fishery has given over 75 percent of the coastwide quota to a single state – Virginia – where most of that harvest is taken by a single, foreign-owned reduction fishery that processes menhaden into fish meal and fish oil. These products benefit interests far from local communities where the menhaden are harvested, such as foreign aquaculture production and livestock feed.

Meanwhile, New England states and other regions where menhaden abundance has increased continue to face quota constraints despite growing ecological importance and economic demand. In many cases, bait suppliers and fishermen in the Northeast rely on quota transfers from other states just to meet the needs of lobster, commercial, and recreational fisheries.

For many coastal communities, access to menhaden bait directly supports lobster fisheries, charter businesses, tackle shops, marinas, and other jobs tied to recreational and commercial fishing. More balanced state allocations would strengthen bait supply, reduce dependence on temporary quota transfers, and better distribute the economic benefits of this resource along the Atlantic Coast.

The current state allocation formula was established primarily using historical landing data. Because quotas are tied to past harvest patterns, rather than current ecological distribution or economic dependence, it reinforces a fishery structure that no longer reflects present-day conditions on the water.

The result is a growing disconnect between where menhaden are most abundant, where they are needed to support coastal economies, and where harvest access is allocated.

A Critical Opportunity This Fall

This November, the ASMFC will consider whether to initiate a process to reallocate state menhaden quotas. This upcoming action represents a rare opportunity to address longstanding inequities in the fishery and create a more balanced allocation system moving forward.

The Commission has the authority to revise quota allocations among states, meaning this is not just a debate – it is a decision that will directly determine Atlantic states’ access to a shared public resource. Future changes to the coastwide total allowable catch will make those allocation decisions even more important.

A fairer allocation framework would better recognize New England’s growing role in the fishery, support working waterfronts and bait-dependent businesses, and ensure that the benefits of this public resource are more equitably shared across the Atlantic Coast. Without action, the current allocation structure could remain in place for years, even as the ecological and economic center of gravity for menhaden continues to shift northward.

Make Your Voice Heard

Atlantic menhaden belong to the entire Atlantic Coast. They fuel world-class recreational fisheries, support coastal economies, and sustain marine ecosystems from New England to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. This upcoming process will help shape how the benefits of this critical resource are shared for years to come.

Atlantic menhaden are a shared public resource. Tell the ASMFC to redistribute the Atlantic menhaden quota so that states with growing ecological and economic dependence on the resource receive a fairer share of harvest, and to relieve pressure on the Chesapeake Bay.

Watch the video, sign the petition, and tell fisheries managers that Atlantic menhaden management should reflect today’s realities – not the conditions of decades past.

Banner image of shark and menhaden courtesy Joanna Steidle