FIGHT FOR
THE FISH
Tiny fish, titanic impact on American marine wildlife
Menhaden, an unsung ocean hero
Menhaden, also known as pogies or bunker, are the fish that everything else eats.
Ospreys, loons, bald eagles, gannets, and brown pelicans depend on them. So do humpback whales, dolphins, striped bass, bluefish, and weakfish. Menhaden take plankton and turn it into the fuel that runs the entire coastal food web.
Take enough of them out of the water, and everything above them on the food chain goes hungry. That is not a theory. Up and down the Atlantic coast in 2026, it is being measured.
Alarmingly, menhaden face immense fishing pressure from two foreign-owned companies that harvest these fish in staggering quantities.
THE BIRDS ARE STARVING. WE KNOW WHY.
In June 2026, scientists published the results of monitoring 571 osprey nests across the Chesapeake Bay. In the parts of the Bay where ospreys depend on menhaden, two out of three pairs raised nothing at all.
The chicks are not failing to hatch. They hatch, and then they starve, because there is not enough food coming back to the nest. In 1985, menhaden made up 67 percent of what those birds ate. Today it is 30 percent, and the rate at which menhaden reach a nest has fallen by 83 percent.
This summer on the Navesink River in New Jersey, our volunteers counted twenty-two nestlings. Three lived to fly. On the Shrewsbury, sixteen nests held no eggs or young at all.
Ospreys are only the bird we can count most precisely. Common loons, bald eagles, northern gannets, and brown pelicans all feed on the same fish, on the same coast, under the same pressure. So do humpback whales, dolphins, striped bass, and bluefish.
This is not a disagreement about catch limits.
It is a wildlife emergency with a cause we can name.
The Threat of Industrial Fishing
These operations remove hundreds of millions of menhaden annually, processing them into low-value fish meal and oil.
This large-scale extraction deprives American marine wildlife of a crucial food source and threatens coastal communities' economic resources.
The impact is no longer abstract. In 2024, ospreys in the menhaden-dependent Chesapeake produced 0.51 young per pair. A population needs 1.15 just to hold steady. Thirty miles away, in the same bay and the same season, where other fish are still available, the same birds produced 1.36.
Moreover, it jeopardizes lucrative recreational fisheries and other businesses that rely on abundant menhaden schools.
Despite menhaden's critical ecological role, current fishing practices prioritize short-term industrial gains over long-term ecosystem health and sustainable local economies, posing a significant threat to the delicate balance of our coastal waters.
That’s why menhaden need your help.
Atlantic menhaden
Atlantic menhaden are a crucial forage fish that support marine ecosystems along the East Coast.
However, the Atlantic menhaden reduction fishery removes hundreds of millions of these vital fish each year, processing them into fish meal, oil, and supplements.
MENHADENDEFENDERS exists because the animals that depend on this fish cannot testify at a hearing. We count nests, document shortages, and carry that evidence to the people who set the catch limits.
Gulf menhaden
In the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf menhaden play a similarly important ecological role as a key prey species for fish, birds, and marine mammals.
The Gulf menhaden reduction fishery is the second largest fishery by volume in the U.S., but currently lacks comprehensive management and monitoring.
Menhaden Defenders advocates for science-based management of Gulf menhaden that prioritizes their value as forage.
About us
Menhaden Defenders is a nonprofit organization fighting for the wildlife that depends on Atlantic and Gulf menhaden. Seabirds, whales, dolphins, and the gamefish that hold up coastal economies all eat the same fish, and all of them are losing it to industrial extraction.
We survey nests, document what is disappearing from the water, testify in the management process, and put the evidence in front of the public and the people who decide.
Our mission is simple: leave enough menhaden in the water for the animals that need them.
Take action. Join us. Give.
Visit our Take Action page to find the latest opportunities to make your voice heard, from signing petitions to contacting decision-makers.
Join our email list to stay informed about chances to advocate for menhaden conservation.
The reduction industry has lobbyists and a permanent seat at every meeting. We have volunteers with binoculars and a record of showing up. Donations pay for the boat fuel, the nest counts, the travel to hearings, and the evidence that makes the case. Every dollar goes into the work.
Menhaden in the news
Keep up to date with the latest menhaden fishery updates and conservation efforts. And share!
"The Biggest Little Fish You've Never Seen"
"The Biggest Little Fish You've Never Seen," co-produced by McKeever Films, Inc., reveals the critical role of menhaden in our Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ecosystems. This compelling documentary explores:
Impacts of large-scale industrial fishing
Uses of menhaden in products from animal feed to supplements
Effects on ocean health and coastal communities
Watch the full, 74-minute version here. Or check out the shorter version at this link.
Uncover the extraordinary story of these unsung marine heroes and gain a new perspective on conservation and sustainable fishing.
Our Partners in Conservation
At Menhaden Defenders, we recognize that the fight to protect menhaden and our marine ecosystems is a collaborative effort. This section honors the dedicated groups and individuals who stand alongside us in this crucial mission.
Together, we form a powerful alliance committed to the conservation of menhaden and the preservation of our coastal waters.
Save Our Menhaden
Website: www.saveourmenhaden.org
Mission: Dedicated to the restoration of menhaden, a keystone forage fish, to its historic levels in the Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, and adjacent coastal waters.
Key Focus Areas:
Atlantic Coast: Addressing overfishing in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia coastal waters
Gulf Coast: Tackling unrestricted fishing in Louisiana and concentrated fishing in the Mississippi River Delta ecosystem
Advocating for sustainable fishing practices and ecosystem-based management
Notable Initiatives:
Campaigning to restrict reduction fishing to Federal waters (3+ miles offshore)
Promoting management for maximum abundance rather than minimal sustainability
Raising awareness about the ecological importance of menhaden through educational content and documentaries
Mobilizing public action through petitions, legislative engagement, and grassroots organizing
How They Make a Difference: Save Our Menhaden exemplifies comprehensive advocacy for menhaden conservation. They combine scientific research, policy analysis, legal action, and public education to create a multi-faceted approach to protecting these crucial fish. Their work spans both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, addressing the unique challenges in each region while emphasizing the broader ecological importance of menhaden.
Key Achievements:
Supported the passing of a resolution in Northampton County, VA, calling for a ban on industrial menhaden fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia state waters
Actively involved in legal actions and petitions to challenge current fishing practices and regulations
Produced and promoted educational materials, including documentaries and news articles, to increase public awareness
Get Involved: Visit their website and Facebook page to learn about current action alerts, sign petitions, and find ways to contact your representatives about menhaden conservation issues.
We are proud to stand with Save Our Menhaden in our shared mission to protect these crucial fish and the ecosystems they support. Their comprehensive approach to advocacy and education aligns closely with our goals at Menhaden Defenders, making them a valuable partner in the fight for sustainable marine ecosystems.
Gotham Whale
Website: gothamwhale.org
Mission: To study, educate about, and advocate for marine mammals in the waters around New York City through citizen science.
Key Focus Areas:
Research on humpback whales and other marine mammals in the New York Bight
Citizen science initiatives to collect data on marine mammal sightings
Education programs for students and the general public
Advocacy for marine mammal protection and conservation
Notable Initiatives:
Maintaining the NYC Humpback Whale Catalog to identify individual whales
The WANTED project, enlisting citizen scientists to report marine mammal sightings
"Science at Sea" educational programs for students
Partnerships with commercial whale watching vessels for data collection
How They Make a Difference: Gotham Whale plays a crucial role in monitoring and protecting marine mammals in one of the busiest urban coastal areas in the world. Their citizen science approach engages the public in conservation efforts, while their research contributes valuable data on whale populations and behavior. By combining research, education, and advocacy, Gotham Whale raises awareness about the presence of whales in New York waters and the need for their protection.
Key Achievements:
Documented the increasing presence of humpback whales in New York City waters
Published peer-reviewed research on humpback whale occurrence and vessel risk in New York and New Jersey
Developed educational programs reaching thousands of students and adults
Established a network of citizen scientists contributing to marine mammal research
Get Involved: Visit their website to report marine mammal sightings, join a whale watching trip, or become a member to support their research and conservation efforts.
Gotham Whale's work aligns closely with our mission at Menhaden Defenders, as the health of menhaden populations directly impacts the whales and other marine mammals they study. Their focus on citizen science and public engagement provides a model for involving communities in marine conservation efforts.
BECOME A DEFENDER
Join the chorus of American citizens advocating for:
Sustainable, equitable fishing practices
Protection of vital marine ecosystems
Transparent, science-based management
Preservation of coastal community heritage
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