Atlantic Menhaden Management 2026

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 2026

Atlantic menhaden are currently managed under Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Menhaden (PDF file, 111 pages). Addendum I to Amendment 3 was approved in November 2022 and adjusted several management measures, including allocations and gear restrictions for the small-scale fishery provision. During the October 2025 ASMFC meeting, the Atlantic Menhaden Board amended the total allowable coastwide catch for only the 2026 fishing season at 186,840 metric tons. This is a 20% decrease from FY2025. Fishing years 2027 and 2028 will be discussed in October 2026.

Maine's Atlantic Menhaden quota for FY2026 was preliminarily set at 19,599,137 pounds. The EESA is set at 4,119,117 pounds.

2026 Fishery Notices:

Maine DMR Regulations

In order to manage the Atlantic menhaden harvest in Maine's territorial waters, three fishery programs have been established and described in Chapter 41 for the limited entry commercial harvest during the State Allocation, Episodic Event, and Small Scale fisheries. In addition to commercial harvest, there is an open license for non-commercial activities also described in the regulation.

REMINDER: Menhaden fishery notices are sent via email only, using the email address associated with the license holder's LEEDS account. Please ensure your email is correct in LEEDS and check periodically for fishery notices.

Summary for FY 2026

  • Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Season - May 1 through November 30
  • Non-commercial fishery begins May 1, 2026
  • Pound net operators may begin May 1, 2026, with incidental catch limit of 1,050 pounds
  • Commercial fishery begins Monday, June 8, 2026
  • Episodic Event Set-Aside amended to a weekly limit of 14,000 pounds
  • If another state participates, Maine will drop back to a daily limit to reduce risk of overage
  • Should Maine have a second phase of the state allocated fishery, harvest will remain at 14,000 pounds on Mondays and Thursdays.

Electronic Reporting for 2026

Electronic reporting is required for all menhaden landings. Information on how to report electronically online through LEEDS, or using the VESL app is available on our website. For assistance, please call DMR Landings at 207-633-9414 or email: landings.dmr@maine.gov.

Federal permit holders may use either VESL or NOAAs Fish Online. 

Note: If you did not go fishing, or went fishing and had no landings, you still need to complete a trip level report stating "DID NOT FISH".

2026 Commercial Harvest: State Allocated Fishery Limits for Pound Nets, Fisher Weirs and Stop Seines 

  • Harvesters operating permanent pound net or fish weirs can harvest and land menhaden beginning May 1st under an incidental catch limit of 1,050 pounds.
  • Starting June 8th, 2026, pound net and fish weir harvesters may land fish seven days a week and have a weekly landing limit of 17,850 pounds per harvester vessel.
  • Should the directed fishery pause or close while in transition, pound net or fish weir harvesters can take and land an incidental limit of 1,050 pounds daily

2026 Commercial Harvest: State Allocated Fishery Harvest Controls

The commercial harvest of the State Allocated fishery opens on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 12:01 am.

  • Harvest days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
  • Weekly vessel limit is 17,850 pounds per harvester vessel
    • Limit may be caught in a single day, or spread over the three harvest days
    • Harvester is restricted to one landing per day
  • Storage of menhaden required immediately upon harvest
    • Either fish tanks, barrels, crates or totes
  • Harvester vessels are prohibited from transferring while at sea
  • Vessels are prohibited from receiving any menhaden while at sea from another vessel
  • Trip level reports are due same day as landing before 11:59 pm through VESL or LEEDS

2026 Commercial Harvest: Episodic Allocated Fishery Harvest Controls

  • The Department will provide notice when the fishery enters EESA
  • Harvest days are Mondays and Thursdays
  • Weekly vessel limit is 14,000 pounds per harvester vessel
  • Storage of menhaden required immediately upon harvest
    • Either fish tanks, barrels, crates or totes
  • Harvester vessels are prohibited from transferring while at sea
  • Vessels are prohibited from receiving any menhaden while at sea from another vessel
  • Trip level reports are due same day as landing before 11:59 pm through VESL or LEEDS

2026 Commercial Harvest: Small Scale Fishery Harvest Controls

  • Harvest days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
  • Daily vessel limit is 6,000 lbs per harvester vessel
  • Permissible gears include: bait gillnets, cast nets, pots, hand seines, hook and line, pound nets, fish weirs, fyke nets, and floating fish traps
    • Bait gillnets cannot exceed 500 feet in length
  • Storage of menhaden required immediately upon harvest
    • Either barrels, crates or totes
  • Harvester vessels are prohibited from transferring while at sea
  • Vessels are prohibited from receiving any menhaden while at sea from another vessel
  • Trip level reports are due weekly on Sundays by 11:59 pm through VESL or LEEDS

2026 Non-Commercial Fishery Harvest Controls

  • Fishing may occur seven days a week
  • Daily limit is 1,050 pounds per harvester vessel
  • Permissible gears include: bait gillnets, cast nets, hand seines, and fish traps
    • Bait gillnets cannot exceed 500 feet in length
  • Trip level reports are due weekly on Sundays by 11:59 pm through LEEDS

For More Information