Species:

Brevoortia tyrannus

Common Names:

Atlantic Menhaden, Fatback, bugfish, Bunker

Family

Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens)

Order:

Clupeiformes

Description:

Body deep and compressed, 30-35 scutes apparent along belly. Silvery, with brassy sides and a dark bluish green back. Upper jaw with distinct median notch, no teeth. Pelvic fin with rounded hind margin, inner finrays equal or nearly equal to outer finrays when fin folded back. Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal softrays (total): 18-22; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft-rays: 18-24. Pre-dorsal scales modified; scales in lateral series 40 to 58 (usually about 45 to 52), those on back, above base of anal fin and at base of tail much smaller and irregularly placed. A black spot behind gill opening, followed along flank by a variable number of smaller spots forming up to 6 approximate lines. Peritoneum is black. Easily distinguished from B. smithi, which has 54 to 80 (usually about 60 to 70) scales and no lines of spots on flank. Other Brevoortia species do not overlap in range. Other clupeids lack the modified pre-dorsal scales. Maximum size 50.0 cm Total Length (male/unsexed).   

Fishery Status:

• Value

• Annual Harvest

The menhaden fishery is one of the most important and productive fisheries on the Atlantic coast, providing fish meal, fish oil and fish solubles and bait for other fisheries. Prior to 1989, more pounds of menhaden were landed each year than any other fish in the United States with coast-wide landings ranging from 300,000 to 400,000 metric tons since the mid-1970s. A majority of catches come from estuaries and near-shore coastal waters, and are caught with a variety of gear, purse seines and pound nets being the most common. The menhaden purse-seine fishery has been found to be an extremely clean fishery, taking less than one percent incidental catch of other species.

The menhaden stock is considered healthy, with total stock size and recruitment comparable to levels recorded during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Atlantic Menhaden Advisory Committee recommended that no further restrictions on fishing are necessary to manage the fishery, although recreational fishing interests and some conservation groups in the Chesapeake Bay are concerned that low recruitment of menhaden may be affecting the species’ ability to serve as a major food source for other fish. Stock biomass is currently high, but likely to decline in the next few years due to low recruitment. Studies indicate that environmental conditions are likely more important than spawning stock size in determining reproductive success, although there is a weak spawner-recruit relationship.

Predators:

favorite food in great numbers for striped bass, bluefish, seatrouts, tunas and sharks

Prey/Food source:

Phytoplankton & Zooplankton

Life History:

Habitat & Range:

Found inshore in summer, but at least some moving into deeper water in winter. Adults are found in near surface waters, usually in shallow areas overlying continental shelf, in greatest abundance immediately adjacent to major estruaries. Juveniles are also generally pelagic, with smallest size groups farthest up river. Water: brackish; marine; pH range: 1.0 - 36.0 ; depth range - 20 m, Range: Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada southward to Indian River, Florida, USA.  Climate: subtropical; 26.0°C; 45°N - 25°N

Main Reference: