Ensuring menhaden protections
The menhaden—also known regionally as “bunker” or “pogy”—is a filter feeder that plays an important role in the marine food web and ecosystem, while also being a popular commercial catch. As such, Save The Bay advocates for a science-based approach to regulating the harvest of this species.
While the existing Rhode Island menhaden regulations are an excellent example of an ecosystem-based management approach, a recently proposed change to commercial fishing regulations would have allowed an increase in the volume of menhaden harvest regardless of the assessed population in Narragansett Bay. This proposal failed to incorporate scientific findings and could have led to an overharvest of the species in the Bay.
Save The Bay testified in opposition to the changes, both at a public Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council hearing and in a letter submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. We are pleased to share that RIDEM rejected the change.
We cannot protect Narragansett Bay without advocating for the health of its fisheries and look forward to continuing to monitor the management of menhaden and other important species.