Dustin Delano, Chairman and Chief Strategist of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA), reacted to the ASMFC’s decision to cut the 2026 menhaden quota:
Today, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted to approve only the 2026 menhaden quota, with a 20% cut, and revisit the issue in one year. While I appreciate the decision to reassess annually, this approach raises serious concerns. If the Commission intends to revisit the quota in just one year, then a more modest reduction, such as 10%, would have been more appropriate. Science shows that even a 10% cut would result in a zero percent chance of overfishing in the first year, so there was no reason to cut more than that.
I urged the Commission to avoid drastic cuts to the menhaden quota. Even this lesser 20% reduction will have troubling effects on working fishermen, bait suppliers, and the lobster and crab fisheries that depend on menhaden. The science is clear: menhaden are not overfished, and overfishing is not occurring. This fishery is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, which affirms that it is being managed responsibly and sustainably.
We must also confront the scientific uncertainty in the models being used. These sudden swings in outcomes, driven by abrupt modeling corrections, erode confidence in the process. That uncertainty should be a reason for caution, not overreaction. The current management measures already keep the stock healthy and the risk of overfishing extremely low. Further sweeping cuts won’t help the resource, but they will hurt the communities that rely on it.
Let’s stay grounded in sound science and practical management, protecting both the ecosystem and the people who depend on it.
