November 10, 2026 — Lower Atlantic menhaden landings in 2025 have raised new concerns among conservation groups about the health of the forage fish population, but commercial fishing representatives say unusually rough weather may have contributed to the shortfall and are urging fisheries managers to wait for additional scientific research before imposing further restrictions.
In a Nov. 8 release, the American Small Pelagics Network (ASPN) challenged claims that the fishery’s failure to reach its 2025 catch limit indicates declining menhaden abundance. The organization pointed to an analysis of National Weather Service warnings and NOAA buoy records showing significantly rougher conditions along the Mid-Atlantic coast during the latter part of the fishing season.
According to ASPN, days under gale-or-stronger warnings from August through December 2025 averaged 53 percent above the preceding 10-year average across 11 coastal forecast zones stretching from the Virginia-North Carolina border to the western New York Bight. Hours under those warnings increased 63 percent, while days with small craft advisories or stronger warnings were 20 percent above average.
The organization said the timing was particularly important because those months coincide with the seasonal southward migration of menhaden, when commercial fishermen depend on workable conditions to reach migrating schools.