On this episode of Fishing the DMV, I’m joined by Brian Collins, an Eastern Shore native and administrator of the Facebook group Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal!. Together, we tackle one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most pressing and controversial topics: the fight over menhaden.

Often called “the most important fish in the sea,” menhaden are vital to the Bay’s ecosystem—filtering water and serving as a primary food source for striped bass, osprey, bluefish, and countless other species. But menhaden are also the target of one of the largest industrial fisheries on the East Coast, with millions harvested each year and processed into fish oil and animal feed.

Brian and I dig into the clash between the billion dollar Omega Protein corporation, and conservation advocates who warn that removing too many menhaden is weakening the striped bass population and destabilizing the Bay’s food web. From quota battles and Bay-specific harvest caps to the rise of ecosystem-based management, we unpack the science, politics, and passion fueling this long-standing conflict.

If you care about the future of striped bass, the health of the Chesapeake Bay, or just want to understand how one small fish can spark such a big fight—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Menhaden-Little Fish, Big Deal Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/765772041406313 

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