November 13, 2026 — Atlantic menhaden fishermen will face additional harvest restrictions over the next two years after the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) approved a phased reduction in the coastwide quota, prompting industry representatives to warn of economic consequences for fishing crews, processing workers and coastal communities from Maine to Virginia.
The Atlantic Menhaden Management Board voted 11-7 on Nov. 10 in Newport, R.I., to set the coastwide quota at 170,000 metric tons in 2027 and 155,000 metric tons in 2028. The new limits represent reductions of approximately 9 percent and 17 percent, respectively, from the 2026 quota of 186,840 metric tons, which had already been reduced by 20 percent from the previous three-year quota.
The decision follows months of discussion over menhaden management, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay, where recreational fishing and environmental organizations have called for additional harvest restrictions amid concerns about the availability of menhaden as forage for striped bass, osprey, and other predators.
Commercial fishing representatives have opposed further reductions, pointing to the latest stock assessment, the economic importance of the fishery and ongoing research intended to better understand menhaden abundance in the Bay.