Top Gulf Menhaden Fishing Countries

The Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) is a small, oily, schooling fish found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. It plays a vital ecological role as a forage species for larger fish, birds, and marine mammals, while also serving as a major source for fishmeal and fish oil in commercial industries. The United States, particularly the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, dominates the global harvest of Gulf menhaden, accounting for virtually all commercial landings of this species. The menhaden fishery is one of the largest by volume in the U.S., with large-scale reduction fisheries processing millions of tons annually for animal feed, fertilizer, and dietary supplements. Other countries in the Gulf region, such as Mexico, have smaller-scale menhaden fisheries, but the U.S. industry remains by far the most significant in terms of catch and processing infrastructure.

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