Saving Seafood

LOUISIANA: Louisiana commercial fishers welcome menhaden bycatch study

July 9, 2025 –A new study on bycatch in Louisiana’s commercial menhaden fishery is largely being welcomed by the state’s fishing industry, who claim it shows the fishery “is sustainable, selective, and not a threat to red drum populations.”

“This study should put to rest the misinformation that’s too often circulated about this fishery,” Menhaden Fisheries Coalition spokesperson Bob Vanasse said in a statement. “This independent science reaffirms what we’ve always said: The Gulf menhaden fishery is guided by data, not politics or guesswork.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

LOUISIANA: Meet the Father-Son Duo Keeping Louisiana’s Fishing Heritage Afloat

July 8, 2025 — For many in Louisiana’s menhaden industry, fishing is a family tradition passed down from generation to generation. To see this tradition carried on today, look no further than the Damerons: fourth-generation Ocean Harvesters Captain Michael Dameron and his son Andrew.

For Michael, being the captain of the Ocean Harvesters Fishing Vessel Oyster Bayou is the fulfillment of a childhood dream.

“All I ever wanted to be was a fish boat captain,” Michael says. “I graduated high school on a Saturday night, stepped aboard a boat Sunday morning, and I’ve never looked back.”

Read the full article at NOLA.com

LOUISIANA: Wildlife and Fisheries set to see results of menhaden fishing study, plus other outdoors news

July 7, 2025 — Conservation and environmental groups will finally get the results of the first independent study on bycatch involving the commercial menhaden fishery industry off the Louisiana coast.

The report is a major agenda item during Tuesday’s 9:30 a.m. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting set for state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

The study is part of a settlement forced by Gov. Jeff Landry in 2024. Groups opposed to menhaden fishery operations sought a one-mile “buffer” off the coast. The settlement with the two major foreign-owned fishery companies set a half-mile buffer zone coastwide with at least one area, Grand Isle, maintaining a three-mile ban on the take of menhaden from its beach.

Read the full article at The Advocate

LOUISIANA: Louisiana’s Pet Food Secret- Economic Power, Local Jobs, and a Global Reach

June 30, 2025 — Premium pet food is a booming industry. What many don’t realize is that one of its key ingredients—Gulf menhaden—starts its journey in Louisiana, supporting jobs, local economies, and coastal communities.

The Local Catch Behind a Global Industry

Menhaden oil and fishmeal are vital to premium pet food formulations, appearing in homes from Baton Rouge to Beijing. But their economic story begins on Louisiana’s working coast. The menhaden fishery generates over $419 million in annual economic output and supports more than 2,000 jobs across 32 parishes.

This makes it one of the largest and most important commercial fisheries in the U.S., yet few consumers understand the role it plays in products they use every day.

Investing in Local Communities

Companies like Westbank Fishing and Daybrook Fisheries and their counterparts from western Louisiana, Omega Protein and Ocean Harvesters, are anchors of Louisiana’s fishing economy. They don’t just catch fish—they invest in the people and places that make the fishery run. In 2023 alone, these two companies contributed roughly $60 million in employee compensation.

“This isn’t just about fishing—it’s about building strong communities,” said Francois Kuttel, President of Westbank Fishing. “From the deckhands on our boats to the families relying on these jobs in Plaquemines and beyond, the menhaden industry is a powerful force for economic stability and local opportunity. We’re proud that what we do here in Louisiana helps feed the world’s pets while supporting the people who call this coast home.”

Read the full article at NOLA.com

LOUISIANA: Anchored in advocacy: Blaine Braddock champions menhaden industry while balancing family, career and community

May 5, 2025 — Blaine Braddock fulfills several roles on a daily basis. The Belle Chase resident and professional financial advisor at Nielsen Investments is also a mother to two young girls and the wife of James Braddock, a captain on one of the dozens of menhaden fishing vessels that work in the Gulf for months at a time each year.

After a decade-long career in Nuclear Medicine, Blaine joined her father at Nielsen Investments in 2022. She focuses her business on faith-based investing and has a reputation as a trusted financial advisor in her community.  Community involvement has always been a priority, which is why you will find her serving on many local boards and panels within Plaquemines Parish.

Inspired by the dedication of her own husband as well as other captains, Braddock is also a vocal advocate for the menhaden industry in Louisiana. She has testified before both the House and Senate Natural Resources Committee on behalf of Westbank Fishing. She has firsthand knowledge of what the menhaden industry means to employees, families and the community at large.

“I feel that advocating for this industry is really important to ensure that we have a seat at the table, especially when any legislative action is being discussed,” Braddock said. “It empowers other community members to take pride in our work and preserve this unique heritage for future generations.”

Read the full story at The Advocate

Louisiana’s Menhaden Industry Celebrates the Beginning of the 2025 Fishing Season with Blessing of the Fleet

April 21, 2025 — As Louisiana’s menhaden fishing industry prepares for the 2025 season, beginning Monday, April 21, fishermen, their families, and local communities are gathering for the annual Blessing of the Fleet. This year’s event, being held on Easter Sunday, blends faith, family, and a deep connection to the sea as generations of fishing families come together to honor their way of life and seek protection for the season ahead.

For decades, the Blessing of the Fleet has been a solemn moment of unity, with industry workers and their families, local leaders and clergy coming together to pray for a safe and successful fishing season. From Plaquemines to Vermilion, menhaden steamers will be adorned with flags and fresh paint, as captains and crews bow their heads in prayer – continuing a tradition that has safeguarded fishermen for over a century.

This gathering is also a time to recognize the dedication and resilience of the industry’s workers. Former Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan visited Westbank Fishing last year and described menhaden fishing as “one of our state’s toughest jobs.” The start of the season serves as a reminder of the sacrifices these crews and their families make, as well as the challenges they face working on the open water.

Read the full story at NOLA.com

LOUISIANA: How Louisiana’s Menhaden Industry is Leading in Sustainability

March 24, 2025 — Louisiana’s menhaden industry plays a critical role in the state’s coastal economy, providing jobs and generating millions in economic impact. Together, the industry supports over 2,000 direct and indirect workers, providing good wage jobs in rural coastal communities and contributing $25 million to state and local economies. In a state where commercial fishing is a backbone of our culture, these jobs help keep coastal communities alive.

At the same time, we recognize our responsibility as stewards of the Gulf menhaden resource and have taken proactive steps to ensure the sustainability of our fishery.

While net tears and fish spills are extremely rare, we acknowledge such incidents are unacceptable. That’s why we’ve invested in cutting-edge technology to further reduce occurrences. Over the past four years, the industry has made 65,000 fishing sets, of which only 44 experienced net tears—a minuscule 0.067% incident rate.

Net tears are largely caused by sharks which strike the nets attempting to access the captured fish inside them. The significant increase in the shark population along the Louisiana coast has resulted in an increased incidence of net tears in recent years.

Read the full article at The Advocate

LOUISIANA: Sustainable Fishing: How Louisiana’s Menhaden Industry Protects the Gulf

March 12, 2025 — For generations, Louisiana’s menhaden fishing industry has supported small coastal communities and harvested a sustainable resource while employing responsible fishing practices that protect the Gulf’s ecosystem. Through science-based management, innovative technology, and strict regulations, we ensure that menhaden remains abundant for future generations.

The commercial menhaden fishery uses the purse seine method, a specially designed technique that minimizes environmental impact. Here’s how the process works:

  • Spotting the School: Fishing vessels use spotter airplanes to locate large schools of menhaden.
  • Setting the Net: The vessel encircles the school with a purse seine net, which closes at the bottom to form a contained “purse.”
  • Hauling in the Catch: A winch system pulls in the net, and a vacuum pump transfers the fish onto the boat while safely returning any larger marine species, like turtles, sharks, or dolphins, back to the water.
  • Sorting and Processing: Fish are sorted using bycatch reduction devices, which separate non-target species before the catch is transported for processing onshore.

Read the full article at NOLA.com

The unsung backbone of Louisiana’s coastal economy

March 8, 2025 – When it comes to Louisiana’s commercial fishing industry, shrimp, oysters, and crabs often steal the spotlight. However, a small yet vital fish, menhaden, sometimes referred to as pogies plays an outsized role.

Known for their high omega-3 content, menhaden are a critical link in the Gulf’s food chain and support coastal jobs and industries. According to The Advocate, menhaden are primarily found along the nutrient-rich estuaries of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. These waters provide an optimal habitat for the fish, which are harvested for use in livestock feed, aquaculture, and pet food. Despite misconceptions, menhaden harvesting is one of the most tightly regulated fisheries in the region, overseen by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, and state legislators. The industry relies on satellite tracking and genetic studies to assess stock health, ensuring sustainable harvest levels.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

LOUISIANA: The History of the Louisiana Menhaden Industry

February 24, 2025 — Few people realize that one of Louisiana’s most valuable fisheries isn’t for shrimp, oysters, or crab—but for a small, unassuming fish that has fueled our state and local economies: the menhaden.

The first large-scale menhaden fishery in the U.S. began on the East Coast in the early 1800s, where the fish were processed for oil and fertilizer. By the late 19th century, the industry expanded into the Gulf, where Louisiana’s nutrient-rich estuaries provided an ideal habitat for vast menhaden populations. Processing plants soon emerged along the coast, and by the early 20th century, the Gulf menhaden fishery was a booming industry, supplying fish oil for industrial uses and fish meal for livestock feed.

Read the full article at NOLA.com