Introduction

Menhaden are uncommon as a food fish, and thus are unfamiliar to the general public. There are two species of menhaden off the US coast, each of which supports a separate US menhaden fishery, the Atlantic coast fishery (Brevoortia tyrannus), and the Gulf of Mexico fishery (B. patronus). Together, they comprise one of the largest (by weight) commercial fisheries in the US (Henry, 1971; Rothschild, 1983). Prior to World War II, Atlantic menhaden dominated the total catch. Between World War II and 1962, larger and more efficient vessels led to a steady increase in Gulf landings (Vaughan et al., 1988). By 1963 Gulf menhaden landings exceeded those from the Atlantic (Henry, 1971).

The menhaden processing industry produces fish meal, fish oil, and fish solubles. During 1980, for example, more than 75 percent of the fish meal produced was used domestically, and over 90 percent of the fish oil was exported, primarily to European markets (Hu et al., 1983). Menhaden, therefore, are of value not only to the US economy and fishing industry, but also play a role in the international marketplace. Present-day development of new products and uses of menhaden by-products, such as medicinal uses of fish oil and surimi (minced fish), is bringing the menhaden fishery into a new prominence which will directly benefit the diet and health of citizens in the US and elsewhere.

This chapter focuses on historical changes in Atlantic menhaden.