Menhaden info

[cheferson]

he menhaden is a remarkable citizen of the sea. Inedible to humans because of its bones, it provides forage for a number of other fish species. The menhaden is a filter feeder, scooping up large amounts of water and consuming both phytoplankton and zooplankton, leaving "cleaner" water. Spawned in the ocean, the menhaden travel in large schools of similarly-aged menhaden to the coastal estuaries where they feed before returning to the ocean to spawn at about age 2. A typical menhaden grows to about 12 to 15" and lives about 3 to 5 years.

Because menhaden travel in large schools, most are caught by the purse seine method; boats circle the school with a net, draw the net close to a larger vessel where the menhaden are pumped out of the net into a refrigerated hold. Because of the compactness of the schools of menhaden, the measured bycatch (non-menhaden), measured numerous times over many years, is less than 1%. Currently about 15 to 20% of Atlantic menhaden are harvested by the bait fishery and the balance by the reduction, or feed and oil, industry.

The reduction industry has gradually migrated from its New England roots to the South. Labor, fuel and property costs have moved the reduction industry to the southeastern Atlantic and the Gulf coast states. Today the Gulf menhaden provide about 75% of the reduction industry's catch, and the Atlantic menhaden about 25%.

Today's market for menhaden products is diverse and growing. The meal made from menhaden provides a unique, high-protein blend of nutrients and is a component of many cattle, swine, poultry and aquaculture feeds where it improves growth rates. The oil pressed from menhaden, which is rich in heart healthy Omega 3 fatty acids, is a FDA approved health food additive. The high Omega 3 fish oil is an ingredient of enriched foods including pasta sauces, salad dressings, sports drinks, baked goods and soups. Menhaden oil is also mixed with other ingredients for cooking oils and shortenings, marine lubricants, plasticizers, alkyed resins, and oils for paint and lipstick. The menhaden oil has been popular for many years in Europe as a health food supplement and as a primary ingredient in margarine.

The menhaden reduction industry employs over 2,000 people, the majority of which are African-American, and provides unique and vital products for a variety of America's markets. Without the domestic menhaden reduction industry, America's needs would be filled by foreign suppliers.