The largest fishery by volume on the U.S. Atlantic coast, supplying bait, animal feed and omega-3 nutrition.
Updated September 15, 2026
National Fisherman
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), coastal states of Maine through Virginia, have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for…
Reported by National Fisherman · read at Saving Seafood
Saving Seafood
The following is an excerpt from a post, "Bunker Mentality," by author Charles Witek from his recreational fishing blog One Angler's Voyage. Mr. Witek is an attorney, fisheries consultant, and recreational fisherman. He has…
Saving Seafood
Saving Seafood
The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: The Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the…
Saving Seafood
National Fisherman
Chesapeake Bay menhaden fishing protesters in small craft continue to harass Ocean Harvesters ’ boats and fishermen by circling in front of the firms’ steamers attempting to keep boats from making sets. Ocean Harvesters…
Reported by National Fisherman · read at Saving Seafood
Saving Seafood
Congratulations are in order for the winners and participants in the 2026 Big Man’s Cobia Bonanza. The ninth annual tournament was held August 14–15 in the Chesapeake Bay, with events based in Norfolk and…
Saving Seafood
National Fisherman
The recent sinking of the Calcasieu Pass in Delaware waters in the Atlantic Ocean to make a reef perhaps speaks more to the changing times of Virginia’s menhaden fishery than to an end of…
Reported by National Fisherman · read at Saving Seafood
Weekly Packet
Maine’s Department of Marine Resources announced that commercial menhaden (pogy) harvesting will reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 31, using quota transfers from other Atlantic states. On August 20, the DMR had announced…
Reported by Weekly Packet · read at Saving Seafood
Saving Seafood
The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: The Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to…
Saving Seafood
ABC News 12
A new bronze statue along the Beaufort waterfront is helping preserve a key part of the town’s commercial fishing history. The statue, named “Samuel,” was recently unveiled at John Newton Park. It honors the…
Reported by ABC News 12 · read at Saving Seafood
National Fisherman
Delaware has sunk a retired 180-foot menhaden vessel on its flagship offshore artificial reef, the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Aug. 18. The Calcasieu Pass , a former offshore oilfield…
Reported by National Fisherman · read at Saving Seafood
ABC News 12
A new addition at John Newton Park is honoring Beaufort’s long connection to the menhaden fishing industry. The Town of Beaufort held a ribbon cutting Friday to unveil “Samuel,” part of the Menhaden Tales…
Reported by ABC News 12 · read at Saving Seafood
SeafoodSource
An ongoing debate over the future of the U.S. Atlantic menhaden fishery has gained national media attention, with the industry pushing back against NGOs and activists. The Washington Post recently published an opinion piece…
Reported by SeafoodSource · read at Saving Seafood
National Fisherman
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…
Reported by National Fisherman · read at Saving Seafood
Saving Seafood
The following was released by Ocean Harvesters: The F/V Calcasieu Pass, a retired menhaden fishing vessel formerly operated by Ocean Harvesters, was intentionally sunk Wednesday, August 12, at Delaware Reef Site 13, approximately 26…
Saving Seafood
SeafoodSource
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is being petitioned to initiate a reallocation process for the menhaden fishery as it also considers its options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap by…
Reported by SeafoodSource · read at Saving Seafood
WHRO
Officials who regulate the Atlantic menhaden industry have debated in recent years how to balance the historic fishery in the Chesapeake Bay with growing concerns about the ecosystem. On Wednesday, they took their latest…
Reported by WHRO · read at Saving Seafood
National Fisherman
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has voted to advance Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 of the Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Management Plan for public comment, reviving a proposal that had been delayed…
Reported by National Fisherman · read at Saving Seafood
Saving Seafood
The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: The Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board approved Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for public comment. The…
Saving Seafood
SeafoodSource
A lawsuit against Cooke Inc., Omega Protein, and Ocean Harvesters has been defeated after the United States Court of Appeals upheld its dismissal in January 2025 . Cooke Inc. was facing a lawsuit brought…
Reported by SeafoodSource · read at Saving Seafood
Saving Seafood
The following was released by Ocean Harvesters: The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board today voted to release Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 of the Atlantic Menhaden Interstate Fishery Management…
Saving Seafood
Atlantic menhaden are harvested for two distinct markets: a bait fishery supplying crab, lobster and recreational fisheries, and a reduction fishery producing fish meal, fish oil and omega-3 nutrition products.
Menhaden are also a forage species, an important link in the coastal food chain between primary production and larger predators. Atlantic menhaden are managed to support their role in the marine ecosystem.
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