Menhaden may be the United States’ most important fish. As the Atlantic’s primary herbivore, the fish has maintained an important role at the bottom of the aquatic food chain.
Considered the “vacuum cleaners” or filters of the ocean, the menhaden feed off of excess algae and phytoplankton allowing sunlight to reach the plant life deep within the ocean. Additionally, many larger fish such as striped bass, bluefish tuna, whales, and porpoises depend on a diet of menhaden.
Now, the menhaden are in tremendous danger of over fishing. The main culprit: Omega Protein, Inc. According to Menhaden Defenders, a group dedicated to protecting populations of menhaden off the eastern coast of the United States, Omega Protein is responsible for the overfishing of menhaden at a rate faster than the fish could reproduce and sustain itself.
The multi-million dollar company just last year brought in approximately 404 million pounds (!) of menhaden. The fish is a focal point of the company’s omega-3 fish oil products.
If the overfishing continues in the way that it is now, it is estimated that the menhaden will be wiped out completely within the next decade.
Groups like Menhaden Defenders are urging the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to stop the overfishing of menhaden in the Atlantic Ocean. In doing so, the species will be protected and the ecosystem will be better able to balance itself.
Read the full petition at forcechange.com
Analysis: The article is incorrect in stating that menhaden are in danger of being overfished. Not only has the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Comission concluded that the current population is not overfished, but overfishing has occurred only once in the last ten yers. The 2010 ASMFC stock assessment indicates no pattern of overfishing in the menhaden fishery.
The article's assertion that menhaden are filter feeders is also debatable, as there is scientific evidence to suggest this is not the case. A study by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science concluded that menahden have a negligible impact on water quality.