AUTHOR=Anstead Kristen A. , Drew Katie , Chagaris David , Schueller Amy M. , McNamee Jason E. , Buchheister Andre , Nesslage Geneviève , Uphoff Jr. Jim H. , Wilberg Michael J. , Sharov Alexei , Dean Micah J. , Brust Jeffrey , Celestino Michael , Madsen Shanna , Murray Sarah , Appelman Max , Ballenger Joseph C. , Brito Joana , Cosby Ellen , Craig Caitlin , Flora Corrin , Gottschall Kurt , Latour Robert J. , Leonard Eddie , Mroch Ray , Newhard Josh , Orner Derek , Swanson Chris , Tinsman Jeff , Houde Edward D. , Miller Thomas J. , Townsend Howard TITLE=The Path to an Ecosystem Approach for Forage Fish Management: A Case Study of Atlantic Menhaden JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science VOLUME=8 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.607657 DOI=10.3389/fmars.2021.607657 ISSN=2296-7745 ABSTRACT=

Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) support the largest fishery by volume on the United States East Coast, while also playing an important role as a forage species. Managers’ and stakeholders’ increasing concerns about the impact of Atlantic menhaden harvest on ecosystem processes led to an evolution in the assessment and management of this species from a purely single-species approach to an ecosystem approach. The first coastwide stock assessment of Atlantic menhaden for management used a single-species virtual population analysis (VPA). Subsequent assessments used a forward projecting statistical catch-at-age framework that incorporated estimates of predation mortality from a multispecies VPA while analytical efforts continued toward the development of ecosystem models and explicit ecological reference points (ERPs) for Atlantic menhaden. As an interim step while ecosystem models were being developed, a series of ad hoc measures to preserve Atlantic menhaden biomass for predators were used by managers. In August 2020, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission formally adopted an ecological modeling framework as a tool to set reference points and harvest limits for the Atlantic menhaden that considers their role as a forage fish. This is the first example of a quantitative ecosystem approach to setting reference points on the United States Atlantic Coast and it represents a significant advance for forage fish management. This case study reviews the history of Atlantic menhaden stock assessments and management, outlines the progress on the current implementation of ERPs for this species, and highlights future research and management needs to improve and expand ecosystem-based fisheries management.