Chris Moore and Will Poston of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation joined host Tom Sadler and the Marine Fish Conservation Network for a Waterside Chat on September 30, 2026. They focused on the importance of menhaden (a small forage fish) to bay ecosystems and why we need to act now to make sure they — and the whole bay — can thrive.
Among other topics, they covered:
- Why menhaden (a small forage fish) are so important to Chesapeake Bay ecosystems
- How menhaden have been fished through history, ending with a single large industrial processor in the bay today
- How industrial menhaden boats can scoop up massive numbers of menhaden at a time
- How Virginia’s regulatory scheme for menhaden in the bay complicated management in the past
- Why our measurements of the amount of menhaden in the bay now lag years behind actual condition
- What needs to be done to preserve menhaden and increase the productivity of the entire bay ecosystem, and why it’s so urgent to take action now
And of course, much much more! Watch the video for the whole story. You can also visit the CBF website or read past articles about menhaden from the Network’s blog.
About Waterside Chat
The Marine Fish Conservation Network’s Waterside Chat series connects people who depend on healthy oceans and fisheries with the issues that directly affect them and their communities. Each episode the Network’s CEO Tom Sadler talks with different guests about ocean policy and fisheries management topics. He engages them in genuine and thoughtful conversations about what policy decisions mean for people’s livelihoods, communities, recreation, and coastal ways of life.
Join the Network’s email list to learn about future Chats. You can also watch past Chats and subscribe to the podcast on the Network’s website.
