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As use of public waters, especially in the estuary and nearshore ocean areas, has grown, competition for space has increased, escalating spatial competition to conflict in some areas. Today's menhaden fleet is greatly reduced in the number of vessels from that of the past, though most of the vessels are quite large and operate during the peak tourist and sport fishing seasons (summer/fall) in areas where marine sportfishing is concentrated. Most conflicts have occurred in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York.
"All Atlantic coastal states should open to menhaden purse seine fishing those state waters now closed to such fishing, which extend beyond one nautical mile from the shoreline, and those states should not close additional marine waters to menhaden purse seine fishing for at least five years."
Source: Atlantic Menhaden Management Review, 2000. Atlantic Menhaden Advisory Committee, June, 2000.
The natural behavior of menhaden generates spatial competition. Menhaden are not randomly distributed; they form dense schools in limited areas at any given time during the fishing season, principally in estuarine and nearshore ocean waters. For purse seine vessels to harvest them, the vessels must go to the fish, often bringing these large vessels into areas near tourist facilities or with concentrations of sport fishermen. The mere sight of menhaden vessels sometimes elicits telephone calls expressing concern to state agencies.
Menhaden serve as a forage fish for sport fish, such as striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, and king mackerel. Because menhaden serve this ecological role, some anglers insist that menhaden be abundantly available as prey for fishes higher in the food chain. Studies all show, however, that the noted game fish consume many other food items besides menhaden. In addition, especially in the south Atlantic area, sport fishermen harvest live menhaden for bait to use in the "slow trolling" method of fishing, which is quite selective for large king mackerel.
A perception frequently cited by anglers is that menhaden purse seines "entrap all fish within a large chunk of water. Anything bigger than a few inches is rounded up, and pulled alongside?" the menhaden vessels. Studies on the menhaden bycatch issue have been conducted since the late 1800s to more recent times. Bycatches have been extremely low, generally zero or much less than 1%, with thousands of sets examined over the years. Most of the bycatch in the historical studies has been of species of little importance to anglers, such as alewife, mullet, threadfin shad, and sea catfish. States which allow menhaden purse seine fishing generally have a limit on bycatch; for example, a 1% bycatch of foodfish is allowed in Virginia (by weight) and North Carolina (by number).
No studies have shown that the menhaden purse seine fishery has any significant biological effect on any other species or fishery. Yet, conflicts have developed from misconceptions concerning the competition and a lack of acceptance of scientific evidence demonstrated by many years of research. It can be concluded that existing competition between the menhaden fishery and other fisheries has been principally for space rather than for menhaden.
In an effort to reduce conflicts, the menhaden industry instituted an education program for other fishermen, management agencies, and the general public. These efforts included taking interested persons on their vessels to observe fishing activities. Individual menhaden companies follow internal codes of conduct for their fishing operations indicating the industry's concern with other fisheries and water-based activities. Areas addressed include cooperation with management agencies, adherence to water quality standards, and courtesy in vessel operations.
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