Why Do Atlantic Menhaden Matter?
Atlantic menhaden (PHOTO courtesy South Carolina Department of Natural Resources). Key Facts: Why the fish is so important This small oily fish is a key piece of the Atlantic ecosystem, from Florida to Maine. This small oily fish is a key piece of the Atlantic ecosystem, from Florida to Maine. • A vital link in the food chain, menhaden are a primary source of food for striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, Spanish mackerel, seals and whales and favored by seabirds like loons and ospreys. • Menhaden help maintain water quality by feeding on plankton and decaying plants. In aggregate in the Chesapeake Bay, these valuable living resources have the ability to filter a volume of water equal to the entire bay in less than one day! The Problem: Red flags abound • The Chesapeake Bay, the biggest estuary in North America, is a prime menhaden nursery ground for the whole East Coast, yet populations there are at historic lows. Juvenile fish are especially low — a key indicator of a dwindling populati
