The latest stock assessment of menhaden in the Gulf of Mexico has found the species continues to be healthy and is neither overfished nor experiencing overfishing.
The Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission released a report at its annual meeting that includes the newest assessment data for the Gulf of Mexico from the years spanning 2021 to 2023. The last assessment in the region was completed in 2021, and the most recent data shows that the spawning stock biomass has increased since then.
“The results of this assessment reaffirm the responsible and effective management of the Gulf menhaden fishery and its long-term sustainability,” Ocean Fleet Service Vice President of Public Affairs Ben Landry said in a release.
Menhaden has been a hot topic for conservationists and fishermen alike due to its status as a forage fish. While the Gulf of Mexico menhaden fishery gained Marine Stewardship Council certification in 2019 and has maintained that certification since then, recreational fishermen groups and environmental NGOs objected to the certification and pushed back against it.
The same was true for the Atlantic menhaden fishery, which also obtained certification to the MSC standard.
The tension between recreational anglers, NGOs, and commercial menhaden fishing resurfaced in the U.S. state of Louisiana after the state’s Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (WFC) extended a buffer zone that prohibits the commercial harvest of menhaden close to the coastline, a move that conservationists celebrated.
“The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission thankfully has recognized that the concerns of anglers and conservation advocates are valid and that Louisiana’s nearshore habitats need protection from foreign-owned, industrial pogie fishing boats,” Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Center for Marine Fisheries Director Chris Macaluso said at the time. “This is a big win for redfish, speckled trout, mackerel, dolphins, brown pelicans, and a host of other fish and wildlife, as well as a win for those who appreciate and enjoy Louisiana’s coast.”
Despite the environmentalist pressure against the commercial harvest of the fish, the latest stock assessment found an increase in stock biomass, low fishing mortality rates, and a healthy stock, as well as low fishing pressure.
“Our industry is committed to maintaining healthy fish populations, and this assessment highlights the success of the collaborative efforts of industry, scientists, and fishery managers,” Landry said.
