NELSON and AHRENHOLZ: CHARACTERISTICS OF GULF MENHADEN 



SUMMARY 



The fishery for gulf menhaden appears to be at 

 parity with the stock. There is ample capacity to 

 harvest available biomass and segments of the stock 

 are not available to the fishery until after spawning 

 has occurred. The fishery appears to be near the level 

 of estimated maximum sustainable yield, but will be 

 subject to wide ranges in annual yield. Substantial- 

 ly increased effort will likely reduce long-term 

 average yield, but should not drive the stock to 

 biological extinction. Maintenance of current catch 

 and stock conditions is dependent on the biology of 

 gulf menhaden, the pattern of recruitment, and on 

 maintaining the current fishing strategy. Major 

 changes in the operation of the fishery, such as an 

 expansion of effort east and west of the present 

 range, or offshore on winter spawning concentra- 

 tions, will change the basis on which these analyses 

 were formulated, and would have consequences 

 which are not predictable at this time 



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