Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) may be one of the most important fish in our oceans. To an outsider, menhaden might seem like a simple, abundant schooling fish. In reality, they are far more than that. Menhaden form the foundation of the marine food web and are considered a keystone species—an organism with an impact on its ecosystem far greater than its size or abundance suggests. As filter feeders that consume phytoplankton and zooplankton, they help maintain water quality while supporting countless larger species. They live almost everywhere along the coast, from inshore salt marshes to deeper offshore waters.

Many coastal species rely directly on menhaden for survival. Birds such as ospreys, cormorants, and seagulls feed on them, as do striped bass, bluefish, sharks, and even whales. Menhaden also support a major commercial fishery, where they are used for bait, fish meal, and fish oil in animal feed or fertilizers. Because they are an oily fish, they are rarely eaten directly by people, but their economic value remains significant as an ingredient. 

Their role is especially critical in the Chesapeake Bay, bordered by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake bay is a major spawning ground for striped bass and other species. Having an abundant food source such as menhaden is incredibly key for larger predatory species to be able to create and maintain enough energy required for spawning. If the menhaden population declines, the entire food chain becomes vulnerable. Predators may shift to feeding on other small fish, which only increases vulnerability on these species. In short, a collapse in menhaden numbers would create significant ecological consequences.

Because of their importance, getting the science right when setting harvest quotas is essential. Menhaden populations have fluctuated over the decades, but the goal has always been to maintain a healthy and stable stock. Unfortunately, as recently as fall 2025, scientists discovered that quotas had been set roughly 300 million pounds too high due to an inaccurate estimate of natural mortality. In other words, we harvested far more menhaden than the stock could sustainably support. This is a major management failure—one that puts the species, and the ecosystems that depend on it, at risk.

Moving forward, quotas must be tightened, protections strengthened, and management improved. Menhaden are too important to overlook. Failing to safeguard them is not just a mistake—it threatens the health of entire marine ecosystems.

Sources 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2025, May 22). Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus). NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlantic-menhaden NOAA Fisheries

American Saltwater Guides Association. (2025, October 13). Take The Cut: Massive reductions for menhaden industry necessary. https://www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/take-the-cut-massive-reductions-for-menhaden-industry-necessary/ American Saltwater Guides Association

Chesapeake Bay Foundation. (n.d.). Atlantic menhaden. https://www.cbf.org/nature/atlantic-menhaden/?s_subsrc=19XX_PM_PA_ACQ_XXX_gg_xx&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1074858700&gbraid=0AAAAAD72xVAkcT27vylU-BsiiLTISVRlL&gclid=CjwKCAiAw9vIBhBBEiwAraSAThKDy–SNNjhy6YzW_x4_GqMTS98VwcCgu0g2PbX7NcnWJxCxWSPbBoCxN8QAvD_BwE