Atlantic Menhaden: A Vital Fish In Decline

Source: Indian Express

• Atlantic menhaden are small, silvery fish that play a vital role in the coastal ecosystems of the Eastern Seaboard. They are a food source for larger fish, marine mammals, and birds, and they also filter large quantities of ocean water, helping to keep the water clean.
• In recent years, the population of Atlantic menhaden has declined due to overfishing. This decline is having a negative impact on the ecosystem, as it is leading to the decline of other species that rely on menhaden for food.
• For example, the population of ospreys, a fish-eating bird, has declined in recent years due to the depletion of Atlantic menhaden. In mid-June, researchers found only three young ospreys out of 84 nests checked in Mobjack Bay, part of the Chesapeake Bay. This is the lowest reproductive number ever recorded for ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay.
• The decline of Atlantic menhaden is also having a negative impact on the commercial fishing industry. Menhaden are used as bait and for fish oil, and the decline in their population is leading to higher prices for these products.
• There are a number of things that can be done to help restore the population of Atlantic menhaden. One is to reduce the amount of fish that are caught. Another is to protect the spawning grounds of menhaden.
• It is important to take action to protect Atlantic menhaden, as they play a vital role in the coastal ecosystems of the Eastern Seaboard. If we do not take action, the decline of Atlantic menhaden could have a cascading effect on the entire ecosystem.

Positive Signs Beyond the Chesapeake Bay

• There are some positive signs that the population of Atlantic menhaden is starting to recover. Outside the Chesapeake Bay, menhaden populations have increased since the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission took measures to address overfishing in 2012. This recovery has led to the return of various predators, such as humpback whales, tuna, sharks, and bald eagles, off the coasts of New York and New Jersey.
• While the recovery of Atlantic menhaden is encouraging, it is important to continue to monitor the population and take steps to ensure that it does not decline again. We need to find a balance between the needs of the commercial fishing industry and the need to protect Atlantic menhaden for the sake of the ecosystem.