APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
MENHADEN 
The menhaden fishery, one of the most valuable fisheries 
in the United States and the largest in volume of landings, 
is centered on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the 
United States. In 1974 the value of menhaden landings was 
about $66.4 million or 7.4 percent of the national total for 
all species; about 2 billion pounds of menhaden were landed, 
which was about 40 percent of the U.S. total catch and by 
far the greatest in volume for any single specie. 
Menhaden are used exclusively to produce meal, oil, and 
solubles. The menhaden industry is composed of large inte- 
grated operations with processors owning the vessels, pro- 
cessing plants, warehouses, and distribution systems. Gen- 
erally, the same companies operate on both the gulf and At- 
Panic cOasitsi. 
STATUS OF FISHERY 
The gulf menhaden yield greatly exceeds that of the 
Atlantic; over 90 percent of the catch in both areas is with- 
in 3 miles of the coast. 
The average size of the gulf species at any particular 
age is less than that of the Atlantic species. Atlantic 
menhaden live longer than the gulf menhaden (10-year old 
Atlantic menhaden have been recorded). Most gulf menhaden 
caught are 1 to 2 years old; fish older than 4 years are 
rare. 
Current harvest in the Atlantic 
Landings of Altantic menhaden in the 1975 fishing season 
amounted to 605,770,000 pounds--1ll percent less than the 
683,178,000 pounds landed in 1974 and 27 percent less than 
831,643,000 pounds caught in 1972. The historical peak was 
ine SiGmacite ms 519 dare OS OO Ompomuncdss 
Annual landings of Atlantic menhaden have shown a clas- 
sic response to a progressively developing fishery. Landings 
increased steadily to a peak in 1956, and then declined as 
the harvesting rate exceeded the growth rate of the menhaden 
population. The population and hence landings, have recov- 
ered greatly since the low in 1969. This is thought by NMFS 
to be due, at least in part, to a 54-percent reduction in 
observed fishing effort, and enhances NMFS' belief in the 
efficacy of controlling the amount of effort. 
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