Andrew T. Manus is a resident of Clayton.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, of which Delaware is a member state, is scheduled to meet in November in Newport, Rhode Island. At that meeting Nov. 10, the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board of the ASMFC will convene to consider the Draft Addendum II to its Interstate Fishery Management Plan. A key item in the amendment is the consideration of provisions to reduce the Chesapeake Bay fishery cap by up to 50%. In addition, through a separate process, the AMB will consider 2027-29 reductions in the coastwide quota. A 40% reduction is one option being offered for consideration by the AMB. These are two separate actions that are important for those concerned about the long-term conservation of menhaden.
Atlantic menhaden are often called “the most important fish in the sea.” These fish support a commercial fishery that value menhaden for what they can be ground up into (like livestock feed, fertilizer and omega-3 supplements). Beyond these uses, menhaden have other values that often get ignored or undervalued in the fisheries management process. Many stakeholders believe that the reductions noted above would be a starting point to more fully recognize menhaden’s greater value and role in our coastal ecosystems.
Menhaden are a vital forage fish. They nourish larger predators, like striped bass, osprey, whales, dolphins and pelicans. Some stakeholders in the fishery believe that removing menhaden at the current rates is having a deleterious effect on ocean and estuarine ecosystems, plus causing decline across multiple species. The most recent example of a decline often cited is the lack of nesting success for osprey. Some researchers suggest that the cause of this decline may be a result of the changes to the availability of menhaden. Menhaden are a nutrient-packed fish and a key food source for osprey chicks.
Modern industrial menhaden fishing uses massive purse seines and spotter planes to clear enormous volumes of fish from nearshore nurseries, like the Chesapeake Bay. I believe that calling for the reduction noted above is a more ethical and responsible stewardship approach to the harvesting of menhaden than the current industrial-dominated one. The menhaden fishery is a natural resource that belongs to all the people and future generations, not just the current commercial enterprises.
The commercial menhaden industry likes to extol its economic benefit to the coastal communities in which it operates. So, in monetary terms, let us think about menhaden as the dollars of the Atlantic. Every whale, dolphin, striped bass and osprey relies on this currency to survive. Right now, we are letting a single industry cash in all the chips, leaving the rest of our marine ecosystem facing potential bankruptcy. When we conserve menhaden, we are not losing money; we are fueling a massive wildlife tourism and recreational fishing economy here in Delaware and coastwide. Several environmental and conservation groups have made the point that there is little to no evidence that demonstrates that enough menhaden remain available in places and seasons where predators and other fisheries need them. So, in an abundance of caution, let’s keep some of the ocean’s currency through these proposed reductions where it belongs: in the ocean.
For menhaden to be a healthy fishery, it must move beyond being simply viewed as a commodity that generates corporate earnings or tons of fishmeal. The public should expect that the ASMFC will consider the entire coastal ecosystem when making decisions about the harvest of menhaden. The time to make conservation concessions that recognize the greater ecosystem services that menhaden provide is now.
Fisheries management as it relates to Atlantic menhaden is a very complex, esoteric and nuanced process. Figuring out how to make your voice heard can be challenging, especially if you missed the ASMFC’s coastwide public meetings that were held mid-September to Oct. 1. The date to offer comments on the menhaden amendment currently under consideration and presented at these public meetings closed Friday, Oct. 9. That said, if you are concerned about this issue, there are still two options available to you. Option 1 is to plan to attend the ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Management Board meeting Nov. 10 in Newport. The board will take public comments at that meeting. In all likelihood, you will be limited to making comments in one minute, not at all enough time to influence the vote on the actions the board might take.
Option 2 would be to actively engage with Delaware’s three commissioners to the ASMFC before they travel to the Newport meeting. These commissioners are the governor’s appointee, Roy Miller (email: fishmaster70@comcast.net); the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s fisheries administrator appointee, Jordan Zimmerman (email: jordan.zimmerman@delaware.gov); and the Delaware General Assembly’s legislative representative, Rep. William Carson, D-Smyrna (email: william.carson@delaware.gov) or his proxy, Craig Pugh (email: crabman31@aol.com). These commissioners typically meet a week prior to the ASMFC meeting to formulate the state’s position on the Interstate Fishery Management Plan provisions being considered at the meeting. In addition, I recommend that you reach out directly to Gov. Matt Meyer, DNREC secretary Greg Patterson and your local representative/senator to let them know how you feel about this issue and its importance to Delaware. The decisions made at the ASMFC AMB meeting in November will impact Delawareans, especially those who recreationally fish or enjoy our coastal wildlife through birding, observing or photography, and the many small businesses that depend upon healthy and vibrant coastal resources for a living. For detailed information on this meeting and other links about Atlantic menhaden, see asmfc.org/events/2026-annual-meeting.
To be heard on these issues, please take the time to reach out to the above folks and share your views. Now is the time to emphasize your support for an ecosystem-based approach to the management of the menhaden fishery. Therefore, I support a 50% reduction in the Chesapeake Bay. I also support the serious consideration of up to a 40% reduction in the coastwide quota. I am hopeful that Delaware’s ASMFC commissioners will champion the cause of conservation in the menhaden fishery.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
