May 4, 2015 — Fishermen harvesting Atlantic menhaden — which is a vitally important source of bait for many local fisheries — have been saying for years what fishery managers at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) are finally realizing: There are far more menhaden in the water than official estimates previously indicated. This was confirmed in January with the release of a completely overhauled, thoroughly improved ASMFC stock assessment.
The assessment made clear that menhaden are not overfished, not at risk of depletion and are being harvested at sustainable levels. This is in stark contrast to 2012, when the ASMFC declared that menhaden were overfished and that drastic harvest cuts were needed.
Read the full opinion piece at the New Bedford Standard-Times