It’s Time for a “Reduction” in Reduction Fisheries
Recently, legislation was introduced in Louisiana to stop the menhaden reduction fishing industry from damaging fragile nearshore habitat, the lifeblood of the Louisiana Coast. This bill would keep the pogy boats at least one-half mile from land where the water is shallow, and the risk of ecosystem damage is high. While this is a good idea, the legislation does not go nearly far enough. The Gulf menhaden reduction fishery is the largest fishery in the Gulf of Mexico and the second largest fishery in the United States. This industry uses spotter planes and massive mother ships to scoop up whole schools of fish, which they “reduce” to fish oil and fish meal for use as pet food and feed for fish farms. Every year, the industry removes more than two billion fish from the Gulf. 85% of the catch is in Louisiana waters. Gulf menhaden are a critical part of the Gulf ecosystem, serving as forage for many predator species, including gamefish like redfish and speckled trout, marine mammal