Over 100 million pounds of Menhaden are stripped from the Chesapeake Bay every year by one (Canadian) company. The fish are caught by the thousands daily, ground up and turned into products for fish oil and fish meal.
But Menhaden play a far more important role to the health of the Chesapeake.
Menhaden help filter the Bay by eating plankton and algae that often block the sun from reaching underwater grasses. They are also a critical food source for everything from rockfish and bluefish to ospreys and eagles and have enormous impact on the health and population of those species.
Politicians have put protecting the profits of one company over protecting the Bay. We want to send 100,000 signatures supporting the Menhaden and the health of the Chesapeake Bay to those politicians. It's time for our voices to be heard and for politicians to start listening to we the people.
The Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association has asked for a ban on Menhaden fishing
The Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization has filed lawsuits to help protect Menhaden
Recreational fishing organizations including Virginia Anglers Club have added that the process used by this company to catch schools of Menhaden is further polluting the Bay
Every Chesapeake Bay environmental group is in favor of stricter restrictions or a ban on fishing Menhaden
The paddling community organized by www.baypaddle.org is now joining the fight
Check out these resources to learn more
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/05/23/the-bat...
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
May 10, 2026
31 Comments
I support Bay Paddle on this petition, and feel action needs to be taken to protect our Chesapeake Bay.
We are seeing a reduction in Ospreys and other birds and fish that rely on menhaden. There must be a moratorium on fishing these fish in the bay until science can study them.
The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem must be sustainably managed. This is not how we take care of the Bay.
STOP THE OVERFISHING! Its ruining the whole bay for everyone else.
My grandfather taught me to fish these waters and now you can barely catch anything. Leave the menhaden alone so the rockfish have something to eat.
Protect the bay!
Keep the bay strong eliminate menhaden boats from the Chesapeake
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Over 100 million pounds of Menhaden are stripped from the Chesapeake Bay every year by one (Canadian) company. The fish are caught by the thousands daily, ground up and turned into products for fish oil and fish meal.
But Menhaden play a far more important role to the health of the Chesapeake.
Menhaden help filter the Bay by eating plankton and algae that often block the sun from reaching underwater grasses. They are also a critical food source for everything from rockfish and bluefish to ospreys and eagles and have enormous impact on the health and population of those species.
Politicians have put protecting the profits of one company over protecting the Bay. We want to send 100,000 signatures supporting the Menhaden and the health of the Chesapeake Bay to those politicians. It's time for our voices to be heard and for politicians to start listening to we the people.
The Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association has asked for a ban on Menhaden fishing
The Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization has filed lawsuits to help protect Menhaden
Recreational fishing organizations including Virginia Anglers Club have added that the process used by this company to catch schools of Menhaden is further polluting the Bay
Every Chesapeake Bay environmental group is in favor of stricter restrictions or a ban on fishing Menhaden
The paddling community organized by www.baypaddle.org is now joining the fight
Check out these resources to learn more
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/05/23/the-bat...
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
May 10, 2026
31 Comments
Menhaden are a foundational species to the Chesapeake Bay, to deplete them will have disastrous consequences.
I support Bay Paddle on this petition, and feel action needs to be taken to protect our Chesapeake Bay.
We are seeing a reduction in Ospreys and other birds and fish that rely on menhaden. There must be a moratorium on fishing these fish in the bay until science can study them.
The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem must be sustainably managed. This is not how we take care of the Bay.
STOP THE OVERFISHING! Its ruining the whole bay for everyone else.
My grandfather taught me to fish these waters and now you can barely catch anything. Leave the menhaden alone so the rockfish have something to eat.
Protect the bay!
Keep the bay strong eliminate menhaden boats from the Chesapeake
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Menhaden are a foundational species to the Chesapeake Bay, to deplete them will have disastrous consequences.