Atlantic menhaden management could face another major discussion this fall, this time over how the coastwide catch is divided among East Coast states.The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is expected to consider in November whether to begin a process to reallocate state menhaden quotas, according to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), which is pushing for changes to a system based largely on historical landings.
TRCP argues the current allocations no longer reflect where menhaden are being found or how fishermen use the resource today. Virginia receives more than 75 percent of the state allocation, supporting the East Coast's only remaining large-scale menhaden reduction fishery, operated by Omega Protein and supplied by Ocean Harvesters. Farther north, menhaden are an important bait source for lobster, crab and other commercial fisheries, with states relying in part on set-asides and quota transfers to meet demand.
"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," said Jaclyn Lunaas, forage fish program manager for TRCP.
The organization points to increasing concentrations of menhaden in New England waters as another reason to reconsider allocations. Menhaden, also known as bunker or pogies, are also an important forage species for striped bass, bluefish, tuna, marine mammals and seabirds. The potential reallocation discussion comes as ASMFC is already considering other changes to menhaden management, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay.
It's certainly true that we're not seeing the large schools of adult menhaden that we used to in the Maryland portion of the Bay. It was pretty easy to blame Omega's giant, airplane assisted purse seining in the Virginia waters, but it well could be that Menhaden changed their migration patterns for some as yet undetermined reason, and many fewer have come this way.
WaPoo opines This little fish anchors the East Coast food web. A fight over it is brewing.
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