Top Atlantic Menhaden Fishing Countries

The Atlantic menhaden (*Brevoortia tyrannus*) is a small, oily forage fish found along the Atlantic coast of North America, prized primarily for its use in fish oil, fish meal, and as bait. Menhaden play a crucial ecological role as a food source for larger fish, birds, and marine mammals, and as filter feeders that help maintain water quality. The largest menhaden fisheries are concentrated in the United States, particularly in the states of Virginia and North Carolina, which dominate global landings thanks to a well-developed reduction industry. While menhaden are also present in Canadian waters, commercial harvesting there is minimal compared to the U.S. Other Atlantic countries have negligible or no menhaden fisheries, making the United States the top harvester of this species by a significant margin. The U.S. menhaden industry is tightly managed to balance commercial interests with ecological sustainability, given the fish’s importance in marine food webs.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.