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Atlantic menhaden have supported one of the United States' largest fisheries since colonial times. Landings records indicate that over 18 million metric tons of Atlantic menhaden have been caught by fishing fleets operating from Maine to Florida since 1940.
The early menhaden purse seine fishery utilized sailing vessels, while coal-fired steamers were introduced after the Civil War. In the 1930's, diesel-powered vessels began to replace the steamers, although a few sailing vessels were still in use.
<graphics/photo_fisherman.jpg> Currently, commercial menhaden purse seine fishing operations utilize spotter aircraft to locate schools of menhaden and direct vessels to the fish. When a school is located, two purse boats with a net stretched between them are deployed. The purse boats encircle the school and close the net to form a purse or bag. The net is then retrieved to concentrate the catch, and the mother ship comes alongside and pumps the catch into refrigerated holds.
Over the years, vessels participating in the Atlantic menhaden purse seine fishery have varied considerably in size, fishing methods, gear type and intensity of effort. During the early 1960s, the commercial menhaden fleet experienced significant changes as larger, faster vessels replaced outdated models. Today, a total of only 12 reduction vessels operate along the entire Atlantic coast. These vessels range from 166 to 200 feet in length and typically carry two purse boats approximately 39 feet in length.
All twelve vessels in the menhaden fleet currently utilize refrigerated fish holds. Refrigeration enables vessels to deliver better quality raw material and serves to increase vessel range and extend time on the fishing grounds.
During peak landing years (1953-1962), an average of 112 vessels with a mean vessel capacity of about 678,000 standard fish supplied the industry. The fleet landed daily catches at 20 menhaden reduction plants from New York to Florida. In comparison, the 1990 fleet of 33 vessels, which operated within a more restrictive and regulated environment, landed their catch at five plants, including foreign processing vessels. Today, the current fleet of 12 vessels unloads menhaden at only two ports, Reedville, Virginia and Beaufort, North Carolina. Economic pressures rather than resource considerations have led to the consolidation of the industry in recent
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