Overfishing of Menhaden Is Not Occurring, Says Industry Report

Omega Protein Corporation (Houston) has announced that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Washington, DC) has published its 2010 Stock Assessment Overview of menhaden fish. Menhaden is a common source for omega-3 fish oil, and the species is often argued as being overfished in the United States.

But the Commission...s review, which is comprised of 2008 data from fishery-dependent and fishery-independent research services, concludes that menhaden were not overfished in 2008.

Among other positive outcomes, the reproduction capacity (fecundity) of female menhaden was found to be above the 2008 threshold and near the year...s target range. 'This means that the spawning stock in 2008 appears to be adequate to produce the target number of eggs,' the report states.

'The findings of this stock assessment validate that Omega Protein and other menhaden fishermen have been fishing in a manner that does not negatively impact the sustainability of the menhaden fishery,' said Omega Protein senior fisheries biologist Ron Lukens.

Omega Protein, the world...s largest producer of omega-3 fish oil, uses menhaden in many of its protein and fish oil products.

To read the full report, click here.