April 1, 2026 — The Gulf menhaden fishery has secured recertification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), reaffirming what industry leaders say is a track record of strong stock health, low bycatch, and science-based management.
According to a March 30 release from Ocean Harvesters and Westbank Fishing, the recertification follows a multi-year independent audit and confirms the fishery continues to meet MSC’s standards for sustainability, ecosystem impact, and oversight.
March 31, 2026 — The following was released by Ocean Harvesters and Westbank Fishing:
The Gulf menhaden fishery has earned recertification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), reaffirming its strong environmental performance and science-based management after rigorous, multi-year independent audit. The MSC is the world’s leading certification body for sustainable fisheries, and the 2026 recertification provides third-party verification that the fishery continues to meet the highest standards for sustainability, ecosystem health, and effective management.
MSC certifications are valid for five years, with annual surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance. A full recertification – including public comment and the opportunity for objections – is required every five years. The Gulf menhaden fishery was first certified in 2019.
The Marine Stewardship Council is an independent, international nonprofit organization that sets the world’s leading standard for sustainable fishing. Its certification program is science-based and relies on third-party auditors, transparent public input, and continuous monitoring to ensure fisheries meet the highest benchmarks for environmental performance and accountability.
The MSC assessment examines every dimension of a fishery’s performance – from stock health and bycatch rates to environmental impacts and regulatory oversight. Fisheries must meet strict scoring thresholds across all categories, with any deficiencies requiring time-bound corrective action. The Gulf menhaden fishery successfully addressed all prior conditions from its initial certification, demonstrating continuous, measurable improvement.
“Achieving recertification against the MSC Fisheries Standard reflects strong, ongoing stewardship of the resource, including careful monitoring and a clear focus on simultaneously maintaining healthy menhaden populations and protecting the marine ecosystem,” said Marin Hawk, Senior Manager Fishery Partnerships, U.S. at the Marine Stewardship Council. “MSC certification is a long-term commitment requiring continuous improvement and accountability, and the Gulf menhaden fishery’s performance underscores its dedication to sustainable practices. We commend the fishery and all those involved for helping to safeguard the long-term sustainability of this important fishery.”
Menhaden are small, nutrient-rich fish found in abundance along the Gulf Coast and play a critical role in both the marine ecosystem and Louisiana’s economy. Harvested using purse seine nets, menhaden are processed into fishmeal and fish oil – essential inputs for aquaculture, U.S. pet food, livestock feed, and human nutrition – valued for their high omega-3 content.
“This recertification is independent, rigorous, and grounded in science – it confirms that our fishery operates responsibly and sustainably,” said Francois Kuttel, President and Principal Owner of Westbank Fishing. “Every step we take, from modernized nets to management and reporting practices, is independently verified and publicly accountable, leaving no room for doubt about the fishery’s sustainability or its benefit to Louisiana communities and markets.”
Economic Impact Across Louisiana
Louisiana’s menhaden industry supports more than 2,000 jobs and generates approximately $419 million in annual economic impact, along with $25 million in state and local tax revenue. The industry also purchases more than $62 million in goods and services from businesses across 32 parishes.
The fishery is powered by two Louisiana-based, U.S.-owned-and-operated companies – Westbank Fishing, headquartered in Empire, and Ocean Harvesters, based in Abbeville. Each works with a processing partner – Daybrook Fisheries for Westbank and Omega Protein for Ocean Harvesters – that received the official MSC recertification certificates on behalf of the Gulf menhaden fishery.
MSC recertification enhances global market access for sustainably sourced products, helping protect Louisiana jobs while ensuring the industry remains competitive in international markets increasingly driven by sustainability standards.
Science, Management, and Accountability
“This certification is not just about environmental performance – it’s about the people and communities that depend on this fishery,” said Ben Landry, Vice President of Ocean Harvesters. “Independent verification confirms the Gulf menhaden stock is abundant, also the fishery is well-managed, and operates environmentally sustainably, reflecting both the health of the menhaden population and the stewardship of our industry.”
The MSC standard is built on three core principles: maintaining healthy fish stocks, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring effective, adaptive management systems. Certification requires third-party review, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing annual audits to ensure continued compliance.
Recent stock assessments and ongoing monitoring consistently show that Gulf menhaden populations remain healthy and are not overfished. The fishery is also recognized for low bycatch rates and efficient harvesting practices.
The Gulf menhaden fishery is among the most tightly regulated in the state, operating under multiple layers of federal and state oversight that hold the fishery accountable on a continuous basis. According to the most recent stock assessment, Gulf menhaden populations are stronger than at any point in the past four decades, with spawning stock biomass more than tripling since the 1990s and fishing mortality declining significantly.
Bycatch Study Reinforces Findings
Recertification follows the release of a landmark, state-funded bycatch study, which found the menhaden industry accounts for just 3.4 percent of red drum removals, compared to 96.6 percent attributed to recreational fishing. The findings underscore the Gulf menhaden fishery’s limited ecological impact and adherence to regulatory limits and reinforce that the industry’s impact is already monitored, measured, and publicly accountable.
Looking Ahead
The recertification comes as global demand for sustainable seafood inputs continues to grow, particularly in aquaculture and animal nutrition markets.
“Our ability to maintain this certification depends on a consistent commitment to data, transparency, and responsible management,” said Kuttel. “We’ve shown that when a fishery follows strict science-based standards, we can deliver both environmental and economic outcomes – a level of accountability that not all user groups are held to.”
With MSC recertification secured, the Gulf menhaden fishery continues to serve as a global model for sustainability – supporting healthy ecosystems, strong coastal communities, and critical U.S. supply chains – with accountability that is proven, measured, and independently verified.
Attached are the official MSC certificates awarded to Daybrook Fisheries (processing partner for Westbank Fishing) and Omega Protein (processing partner for Ocean Harvesters).
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.”
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.
November 10, 2021 — The following was released by the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition:
The Gulf menhaden population has once again been confirmed to be sustainably harvested, based on the results of a recently approved stock assessment conducted by NOAA Fisheries biologists and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC). Managers at the GSMFC approved the final assessment at their annual meeting in late October.
The assessment, which is based on data from the Gulf menhaden fishery for 2018-2020, finds that Gulf menhaden are neither overfished, nor are they experiencing overfishing. This confirms the results of the last major Gulf menhaden assessment, released in 2019, which reached the same conclusions about the health of the species.
The assessment document went so far as to state that “In general, there is little risk of overfishing or of being overfished.” This statement truly drives home the point that this is a very healthy stock and responsible fishery.
“This latest assessment continues a long trend of positive information coming out about this fishery, which has long been healthy and sustainable,” said Ben Landry, Director of Public Affairs for Ocean Harvesters, which operates a fleet of menhaden fishing vessels.
“This positive assessment validates that the current Gulf menhaden fishing effort is at a level which is both responsible and sustainable,” said Francois Kuttel of Westbank Fishing.
In addition to its conclusions about the overall state of the Gulf menhaden stock, the assessment also finds several other positive indicators for the species. It found that menhaden abundance was particularly strong in 2018, and that fishing mortality is stable and well below historic highs. These indicators support the overall conclusion that overfishing is not an issue with Gulf menhaden.
Gulf menhaden has been internationally recognized as a sustainable fishery. Since 2019, the fishery has been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the most prominent international seafood certification program. Much like this assessment, the MSC certification cited the long-term health of the menhaden population, as well as noting the limited environmental impact of the fishery.
March 24, 2021 — In a large auditorium in rural Plaquemines Parish, La., hundreds of commercial fishers and processing plant workers got their shot in the arm last week. The mass coronavirus vaccination event was a five-minute drive from the docks that house their fishing vessels – right where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico.
National Guard troops administered doses to more than 300 people during the event held specifically for workers at Westbank Fishing and Daybrook Fisheries, a processing plant that turns fish into products like pet food.
“To be honest I didn’t feel nothing, no difference. I still feel the same,” said Angel Arroyo, a welder at Daybrook Fisheries. “I know I won’t infect anybody else or catch the virus.”