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In October 2025, the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board (Board) initiated Draft Addendum II, which will consider reducing the Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery cap by up to 50% and creating quota periods to distribute harvest under the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season. The Draft Addendum responds to concerns about a concentration of effort that may be affecting other fisheries within the Bay and other potential ecological impacts.
The Chesapeake Bay cap was first implemented with Addenda II through IV to Amendment 1 as a precautionary measure in response to concerns of localized depletion in the Bay. Specifically, Addendum II implemented a harvest cap for 2006-2010 fishing seasons. Before its first year of implementation, Addendum III revised the cap amount to be the average landings from 2001 to 2005 (or 109,020 mt); and Addendum IV extended the provisions of Addendum III through 2013. However, in 2012, Amendment 2 reduced the cap by 20% to 87,216 mt. Finally, in 2018, Amendment 3 reduced the Chesapeake Bay cap to 51,000 mt, recognizing the importance of the Chesapeake Bay as nursery grounds for many species and bringing the cap down to reflect the average reduction landings in the Bay from 2012-2016.
Phase
Status
October 2025: Board initiated Draft Addendum I
Completed
February 2026: Board provides further guidance to PDT on Draft Addendum II options
Completed
Plan Development Team develops Draft Addendum document for Board consideration for public comment
Active
Board considers Draft Addendum II for Public Comment
2026 Spring Meeting
Draft Addendum II Public Comment Period, including Public Hearings
June/July 2026
Board considers final approval of Addendum II
2026 Summer Meeting
State Implementation of Addendum I
TBD
Contacts
- James Boyle, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, JBoyle@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740
Action Development Timeline & Documents
August 2024
In response to a request from the Board based on public concern about the effects of menhaden fishing on ospreys, US Geological Survey (USGS) staff presented a summary of the latest information regarding osprey abundance, spatial and temporal distribution, dietary demands, and timing of fledge in the Chesapeake Bay region, as well as ongoing research and information gaps. The Board established a workgroup to gain additional information and evaluate different options of precautionary management in Chesapeake Bay.
May 2025
Board reviews the Work Group report on precautionary management in Chesapeake Bay. The Work Group met nine times from September 2024 to April 2025 and developed a report based on Chesapeake Bay predator and fishery data. The Work Group addressed its task without determining if there is or is not an adequate supply of menhaden to support predatory demand in the Bay. Based on the life history of the predators examined, the nature of Chesapeake Bay menhaden fisheries, and recent changes in menhaden availability, the Work Group discussed a number of precautionary management options that the Board could consider for further action.
October 2025
Board initiates development of Draft Addendum II in response to concern regarding the impacts to Bay bait fisheries and ecosystem from the reduction fishery. The Draft Addendum will consider reducing the Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery cap by up to 50% and creating quota periods to distribute harvest under the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season.
February 2026
The Board provided further guidance to the PDT on the development of the Draft Addendum options, including direction for reducing the Bay Cap: the Board will have the ability to choose any value within the range of 0 to 50%, but for analysis and public consideration, the PDT will drafting options for status quo (0% reduction), and reductions of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 50%.
Next Steps
The Board will meet at the Commission’s Spring Meeting (May 2026) to consider approving Draft Addendum II for public comment.