Atlantic Menhaden, 'Brevoortia tyrannus', Purse Seine Fishery, 1972-84, with a Brief Discussion of Age and Size Composition of the Landings

摘要

The report summarizes (1) annual purse seine landings of Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, for 1972-84, (2) estimated numbers of fish caught by fishing area, (3) estimates of nominal fishing effort and catch-per-unit-effort, (4) mean fish length and weight, and (5) major changes in the fishery. Landings steadily improved and by 1980 the total coastwide landings exceeded 400,000 metric tons. Nevertheless, the character of the fishery changed considerably. Eleven reduction plants processed fish at seven ports in 1972, but in 1984 only eight plants operated at five ports.