Atlantic menhaden are a foundational forage species in Chesapeake Bay that support commercial fisheries and provide an important food source for numerous fish, bird, and marine mammal species. Effective management requires scientifically robust estimates of abundance, exploitation rates, predator consumption, and fishery distribution patterns.

In response to Item 145.Q of the 2026 Appropriation Act, VIMS will initiate a coordinated research program during FY2027 to address critical information needs related to Atlantic menhaden management in Chesapeake Bay.

Three major projects will be undertaken:

1. Development of a large-scale mark-recapture program to estimate abundance, exploitation rates, and exchange between Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters;

2. Quantification of predator consumption of Atlantic menhaden relative to stock size and harvest levels;

3. Analysis of reduction fishery distribution and effort patterns together with fisheries-independent indicators of abundance.

Collectively, these projects will provide scientifically defensible information necessary to evaluate future harvest management approaches and ecosystem impacts within Chesapeake Bay.

During the initial reporting period (July 1, 2026 through September 30, 2026), VIMS focused on establishing the scientific, administrative, and operational framework necessary to execute the multi-year study. Activities included personnel recruitment, procurement of tagging and detection equipment, development of collaborative agreements with fishery partners, and refinement of analytical methods for estimating Atlantic menhaden consumption by predators.