A VITAL SPECIES
Menhaden are important. Really important. But what are they, and why are they important?
"The most important fish in the sea"
Often coined “the most important fish in the sea”, the ecological significance of the Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) stems from their critical role in the connection between the top and bottom of the food chain. Menhaden are silver schooling baitfish that can reach upwards of 15 inches in size. As “filter feeders,” menhaden filter water through their mouths, sifting out phytoplankton, zooplankton, and algae. A singular adult menhaden can filter the algae from four to six gallons of water in just a minute, converting it into nutrients while cleansing the water and helping combat deadly algae blooms. These nutrient-rich menhaden are then eaten by whales, dolphins, seabirds, ospreys, eagles, and a long list of predatory fish along the east coast of the United States, such as striped bass, bluefish, and bluefin tuna. For many of these species, menhaden are the primary source of sustenance.
Along with this position as a keystone species in the east coast food chain, menhaden are a critical aspect of the Northeast lobster industry and other small-scale commercial fishing industries. Lobstermen depend on this oily fish as bait for their lobster traps.
