Introduction
Atlantic Menhaden is a quota monitored species managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Some of the links below are PDF files, and may require Adobe Reader software (download here free) to view or print. For more information, contact Matt Cieri or Melissa Smith at DMR, or your local Marine Patrol office or officer.
Management for 2022
Atlantic menhaden are currently managed under Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Menhaden (PDF file, 111 pages). Approved in November 2017, the Amendment maintains the management Program's suite of commercial management measures including allocation, quota transfers, quota rollovers, incidental catch, the episodic events set aside program, and the Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery cap. The Atlantic Menhaden Board set the total allowable catch for the2021 fishing seasons at 194,400 metric tons.
Maine's allocation of Atlantic menhaden quota is 0.52% of the available194,400 metric tons, or 2,194,396 pounds. Maine is also able to participate in the Episodic Events Fishery Set Aside program; the set aside quota is 1% of the total allowable catch and is approximately 4.28 million pounds for the 2021 fishing year.
Draft Addendum 1 to Amendment 3
The Atlantic Menhaden Board at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is currently working on draft Addendum I to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan. This management document contains several options which consider changes to the state-by-state allocations, increases in the episodic events set aside, and greater restrictions on the small-scale fishery. Click here for information on draft Addendum 1 and upcoming public hearings.
Maine DMR Menhaden Regulations
In order to manage the Atlantic menhaden harvest in Maine's territorial waters, three fishery programs have been established and described in Maine DMR Regulation Chapter 41 for Commercial harvest during the State Allocation, Episodic Event, and Small Scale fisheries. Also see the notice regarding 2022 licenses.
Additional information on the Commercial and Noncommercial menhaden harvest can be found in Maine DMR Regulation Chapter 41 and summarized in the Notice of Final Rulemaking, posted on April 27, 2021, linked below.
Daily electronic reporting remains in effect. Daily electronic reporting methods include LEEDS for State permit holders and NOAAs Fish Online for Federal permit holders.
2022 Announcements, most recent first
- August 23, 2022 - Commercial fishery CLOSED Sunday, August 28 at 11:59 pm
- June 27, 2022 - Episodic Fishery CLOSED Tuesday, June 28 at 12:01am
- June 20, 2022 - Episodic Fishery OPENS Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. with 6,000 lbs daily trip limit
- June 17, 2022 - Notice of Emergency Rulemaking: Ch 41 MENHADEN; Modified Episodic Fishery Harvest Limit
- June 15, 2022 - State Allocated Quota Update and Reporting Reminder
- June 1, 2022 - Notice of Emergency Rulemaking: Ch 41 Menhaden; Modified Harvest Days For State Allocated Fishery
- April 26, 2022 - Update on Limited Entry, pdf file, 198 KB
- May 12, 2022 - Menhaden License Information, pdf file, 147 KB
2021 Announcements, most recent first
- June 30, 2021 - Menhaden Episodic Fishery Closed; Small Scale opens Monday July 5, 2021 , pdf file, 36kb
- June 24, 2021 - Episodic Fishery Opens Friday, June 25, 2021, pdf file, 300kb
- June 23, 2021 - Public Notice - State Fishery Closes June 23, 2021, pdf file, 10kb
- April 27, 2021 - Notice of Final Rulemaking: Chapter 41 Atlantic Menhaden; FY2021 Harvest Rules, pdf file 188kb
2020 Announcements, most recent first
- July 9, 2020 - Small Scale Fishery Opens Thursday, July 9, 2020
- July 2, 2020 - Daily Landing Limit in Episodic Event Fishery Reduced to 6,000 poinds, pdf file, 339 kb
- June 26, 2020 - Harvest Resumes Under Episodic Event Fishery , Monday June 29, pdf file, 353 kb
- June 18, 2020 - Reporting Links and Instructions for LEEDS, pdf file, 355 kb
- April 27, 2020 - Regulations & Reporting Update for FY 2020, pdf file, 443 kb
- March 12, 2020 New Reporting Requirements, Personal Use Bait Permit, Harvest Schedule, and Carrier Vessel Restrictions (Chapter 41)
For More Information:
- Maine State Territorial Waters Fishery: Regulations (scroll down to Chapter 41 Menhaden)
- For more information, contact Melissa Smith at DMR.