Konoss

What are your thoughts on the current menhaden management strategy?

It's a real hot topic on the east coast right now, especially within the Chesapeake Bay and some progress is being made.

Basically, many people would like them to be managed as a forage fish (which means a lot more fish will be around so that they can support other species). On top of that, 85% of the total catch comes out of Virginia. The issue is that Virginia is also the largest nursery for them.

Many people living on the bay feel like the lack of menhaden (bottom of the food pyramid) has had a devastating affect on the bay in regards to it's Striped Bass population. The lack of menhaden has caused Striped Bass to eat other forage which has a) decimated the grey trout population and b) caused many Striped Bass to die off.

My ideal situation is that they would stop fishing commercially for them but that will never happen.

The committee that manages the Menhaden population just closed a public comment period on Amendment 3 (which involves this issue). Fingers crossed that it works out.

This is probably the best quick explanation I have found: http://www.chesapeakelighttackle.com/2016/12/06/something-we-all-agree-on-a-call-to-action/

Disclaimer: It is from a recreational fishing site. On top of that, I am also a recreational angler and although I see a lot of negativity towards fishing here, I felt that conserving fish is something that everyone here can agree on so this was worth sharing.