National Fisherman

Mid-Atlantic

Ocean Harvesters says a new study on Chesapeake Bay osprey declines does not prove a link to Virginia's commercial menhaden fishery. Photo courtesy of Ocean Harvesters

Ocean Harvesters disputes osprey-menhaden link

Carli Stewart

Hurricane Erin was the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season and strengthened to a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130 mph. NOAA photo.

NOAA predicts ‘below normal’ 2026 Atlantic hurricane season

NF Staff

Mike Malczewski fishes blue catfish using pots. His son Cody, seen behind the pot, goes longlining for blue cats, but sometimes helps his father. Malczewski makes all his own pots. “I haven’t had luck with storebought,” he says. Photo courtesy of Jay Flem

Invasive blue catfish turn problem into fishery

Paul Molyneaux

Commercial fishing vessels in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Credit: Photo courtesy of NOAA Fisheries / Heather Soulen

NOAA surveys East Coast fishing crews amid industry pressures

NF Staff

The 2026 Chesapeake Bay winter blue crab dredge survey shows a 46 percent increase in the crab population from 2025. Photo by Larry Chowning

Larry_Chowning

Bay-wide blue crab survey shows 46 percent increase

Larry Chowning

The hull of the Miss Violet II is being fiberglassed and repowered with a new Cummins QSC 600 diesel engine to work in the Virginia blue crab pot fishery. Larry Chowning photo.

Larry_Chowning

The enduring pull of the wooden deadrise boat

Larry Chowning

With a AMSFC 20% quota reduction in coast-wide menhaden harvest, these Reedville fishermen are likely to see pay cuts this year. Photo courtesy of Larry Chowning

Larry_Chowning

Menhaden fishermens’ paychecks likely to be smaller

Larry Chowning

Debate over Atlantic menhaden management in Chesapeake Bay is continuing to intensify. Photo courtesy of Larry Chowning

ASMFC menhaden pause draws split reaction

NF Staff

ASMFC has delayed action on potential new protections for Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. Photo courtesy of Jerry Prezioso / NOAA

Commission delays Chesapeake menhaden protections amid growing Bay concerns

Carli Stewart

Menhaden Fisheries Coalition argues that federal fisheries managers treated economic concerns differently when weighing striped bass and menhaden management decisions. Photo courtesy of Ocean Harvesters

Menhaden group claims ASMFC applied a double standard on economic impacts

Carli Stewart

Two independent analyses are pushing back on a key claim driving current Atlantic menhaden management discussions, that Virginia’s reduction fishery is preventing fish from reaching Maryland waters. Photo courtesy of Larry Chowning

Studies challenge 'gauntlet' theory in Chesapeake menhaden debate

Carli Stewart