Industrial fishing practices are increasingly at the center of political and ecological debates in Alaska, mirroring long-standing conflicts across the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. According to Whit Fosburgh, executive director of the Forage Fish Campaign, the depletion of species like menhaden, herring, and mackerel by industrial fleets is triggering cascading economic and environmental consequences, including the collapse of predator populations and rising costs for commercial, recreational, and coastal industries.
Industrial Trawling and the Collapse of Atlantic Forage Fish
In the Northeast, the use of pair trawls—where two vessels drag a net the size of a football field—has raised alarms over the indiscriminate harvesting of marine life. Fosburgh reports that these operations target Atlantic herring and mackerel, often capturing depleted river herring as bycatch. By 2019, these populations had suffered a collapse, a crisis that ultimately resulted in an $11 million federal disaster bailout for the industry.
The scale of extraction is equally significant along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts regarding menhaden, often called bunker or pogies. Two foreign-controlled companies harvest more than 4 billion menhaden annually, utilizing spotter planes and mother ships. Most of this catch is processed into fishmeal and pet food rather than human food, then exported to support foreign aquaculture operations that compete directly with U.S. fishermen.
Did you know?
The price of a lobster roll in Maine has surged from approximately $14 a decade ago to roughly $40 today. Industry analysts link this shift to a four-year decline in the New England lobster industry, driven in part by the scarcity of herring and mackerel, which forces lobstermen to pay five times more for bait.
Ecosystem Impacts and Predator Starvation
The decline of forage fish has created a ripple effect throughout the marine food web. Striped bass, a species supporting an estimated 100,000 jobs and billions in economic activity, rely heavily on menhaden. As menhaden populations dwindle, the stability of the striped bass fishery is increasingly compromised.
The impact extends to avian species as well. In the Chesapeake Bay, ospreys have experienced a 90% nest failure rate, with reports of chicks starving to death due to the lack of available prey. Meanwhile, in the Gulf of Mexico, industrial menhaden nets catch over 150 million nontarget fish annually, including redfish, sea trout, and croaker, leading to stricter regulations and shorter seasons for recreational anglers.
Management Failures and the Shift in Policy
Fisheries management has faced criticism for failing to prioritize long-term sustainability. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, tasked with managing menhaden and striped bass, adopted an ecosystem-based management approach in 2019. However, the application of this policy has been inconsistent.
According to Fosburgh, scientists initially recommended quota reductions to protect the forage base. Instead, managers increased quotas by 50,000 tons after revising population estimates upward. When those same scientists later acknowledged that menhaden abundance was 40% lower than previously thought, the commission adopted only a minor reduction. Internal analysis from the commission itself suggested this decision left striped bass with a 0% chance of recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are industrial fleets allowed to catch so many menhaden?
Industrial fleets often maintain significant influence over fisheries management and political processes. Despite supporting fewer jobs than recreational and commercial sectors, these fleets continue to secure high harvest quotas through current management frameworks.
What is the connection between farmed salmon and American fisheries?
Much of the menhaden harvested in the U.S. is processed into fishmeal and exported to feed farmed salmon and shrimp. These products are then imported back into the U.S. market, where they compete with domestic seafood caught by American fishermen.
How does the decline of forage fish affect the average consumer?
The decline leads to higher operational costs for commercial fishermen, such as increased bait prices for lobstermen. These costs are passed down the supply chain, contributing to the rising prices of seafood products like lobster rolls at the consumer level.
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