In November, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, a panel of state fishery managers that regulates catches of migratory fish along the coast, will grapple with whether it should continue to manage menhaden as a single species — or begin considering its value to the ecosystem as well.
The debate over menhaden comes amid rising concern over forage fish, those small species that provide a critical link in the aquatic food chain by converting plankton into food for larger predator fish, birds, and mammals. Historically, forage species have received less attention — and protection from overfishing — than the larger predators, such as striped bass.
LINK (via: Bay Journal)
