menhaden

Menhaden are small to medium-sized oily fish in the family Clupeidae, commonly referred to as the herring family. The term covers several species within the genus Brevoortia, among which the Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) and Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) are the most economically important in North America.

Distribution and habitat are closely linked to each species. Atlantic menhaden occur along the Atlantic coast, from parts of Canada to the Caribbean, while Gulf menhaden inhabit the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent Atlantic coastal waters. They typically form large, estivorous schools in nearshore, estuarine, and coastal shelf environments.

Diet and feeding occur by filter feeding. Menhaden draw in water and strain out plankton with their gill rakers, consuming phytoplankton and tiny zooplankton. This feeding behavior makes them a key conduit of energy from the microscopic base of the food web to larger predators.

Ecological and economic roles are significant. As a major forage species, they serve as prey for many larger fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. Commercially, they are processed into fish meal and fish oil, and are used as bait or, in some regions, for human consumption. Their abundance can influence the population dynamics of dependent species.

Management and conservation focus on sustaining the stock and its ecological role. In the United States, the Atlantic menhaden stock is managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which sets harvest limits and other measures to prevent overfishing and protect ecosystem needs.