An Atlantic menhaden, for which a reduction in commercial catch has been proposed as an addendum to the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission’s management plan for the species /Delaware DNREC graphic: Duane Raver Jr.

Draft Addendum Could Reduce Chesapeake Bay Menhaden Reduction Fishery
Annual Catch by 50% and More Evenly Distribute Cap During Commercial Season

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will jointly host a virtual hearing with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on potential changes to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Atlantic Menhaden management plan Tuesday, Sept. 22. The virtual meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information about the meeting, including registration, visit the ASMFC website.

A draft addendum to an amendment of the plan considers options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay menhaden reduction fishery cap by up to 50% and distribute the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season. The Chesapeake Bay cap is the upper limit on the amount of Atlantic menhaden the reduction fishery can harvest in the Chesapeake Bay and is currently set at 51,000 metric tons. The options aim to alleviate any concentration of commercial effort that may be affecting other fisheries within the bay and other potential ecological impacts.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 75,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

###

Print