FAQs
Common questions about the menhaden in Chesapeake Bay
What are menhaden and why do they matter to Chesapeake Bay?
Menhaden are small, nutrient-rich forage fish, also called bunker or pogie, that form the foundation of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. As filter feeders, menhaden efficiently transfer ecosystem nutrients from the bottom of the food web to the top. Menhaden are a vital food source for the Bay creatures we all know and love, such as striped bass, osprey, and whales. The Chesapeake Bay serves as a vital nursery for Atlantic menhaden: a sensitive area where fish eggs mature into young and adult menhaden each year.
Why is menhaden fishing controversial in Virginia?
Virginia is the only Atlantic state that still allows industrial reduction fishing inside state waters. Omega Protein and its fishing partner Ocean Harvesters extract over 100 million pounds of menhaden from the Bay annually for fishmeal, fish oil, and animal food. As the last-remaining reduction fishing operation, nearly three-quarters of all menhaden harvest along the Atlantic coast come from Virginia-based Omega Protein.
What is reduction fishing?
Reduction fishing refers to fishing operations that target small forage fish, like menhaden, to cook and grind them down into valuable products like fishmeal, fish oil, supplements, and other types of products. Reduction fishing uses spotter planes, over 1,500 foot purse seine nets, and industrial vacuum hoses to suck up these small fish, and transport them back to the factory, to be processed into fish meal and oil.
Is Omega Protein a foreign-owned company?
Yes. In 2017, Cooke Inc., a massive international aquaculture operation based in Canada, purchased Omega Protein for roughly $500 million.
What do Virginians think about menhaden protection?
92% of Virginia voters want more menhaden left in the Bay, and 79% support halting industrial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay until science proves sustainability.
Isn’t there already science indicating menhaden populations are healthy?
No. There is no science specific to Chesapeake Bay menhaden abundance, where Virginia’s industrial menhaden fishery is concentrated. However, a new coastwide stock assessment by fisheries experts shows nearly 40% fewer menhaden than previously thought along the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. This is concerning as menhaden are a critical link in the Bay’s food web, and without Bay-specific data, industrial fishing may be harming a vulnerable ecosystem.
How are menhaden managed?
As a nearshore, migratory fish, Atlantic menhaden are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), an interstate compact of states from Maine-Florida. While menhaden have been commercially harvested for decades, formal management with catch limits and accountability measures were enacted in the mid 2000s. Today, the ASMFC explicitly manages menhaden for their role in the ecosystem as forage fish, but management decisions have not always followed that science.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission implements the ASMFC menhaden management plan (i.e. annual harvest quotas and other management requirements), but the VMRC could enact more conservation-minded regulations.
Is pausing reduction fishing misguided if menhaden dynamics are being influenced by natural, environmental forces rather than fishing pressure?
Current conditions indicate the Chesapeake Bay no longer can support industrial-scale menhaden fishing. Climate and environmental factors are likely influencing Bay menhaden dynamics, but those forces are largely beyond our control. In contrast, harvest levels are a management decision and represent the most direct and effective tool available to respond to clear ecosystem warning signs. Protecting the Chesapeake Bay estuary, which serves a critical nursery ground for menhaden and struggling predators, and moving the industrial reduction fishery out in the ocean is the most balanced and risk-averse solution to address Chesapeake Bay ecologic and economic concerns.
How does the loss of menhaden affect Virginia's economy?
A declining menhaden population could threaten thousands of jobs in commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, charter businesses, and hospitality; far more than the 270 jobs that are heavily protected by industry. If Omega Protein and Ocean Harvesters moved their operations to the ocean, those industrial menhaden fishing jobs would be better protected, along with countless other jobs along the Bay.
The menhaden factory fishery is a longstanding fishery of significant cultural and economic importance. What do you expect to happen to this community if the Bay becomes off limits for the fishery?
The long-term threat to both the Chesapeake Bay and the fishery is real. Ignoring clear warning signs does not protect jobs and instead increases the risk of long-term economic harm. If menhaden populations decline, the consequences will be felt by both the ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. Shifting the fishery outside the Bay allows Omega Protein’s workforce to continue operating in the ocean while reducing pressure on a fragile and heavily stressed ecosystem. Protecting menhaden supports a wide range of commercial and recreational fisheries and the many Bay communities that rely on them.
How can I get involved?
Spread the word! Download the informational handout to share with your friends, neighbors, and families. Sign the petition to tell Virginia state leaders that we don’t have time to lose – we need action to save menhaden now! Get in touch and visit to learn more about ways you can get involved.