Menhaden, small schooling fish often called bunker, are a cornerstone of the Bay's food web. They are a primary prey for striped bass, osprey, and other iconic wildlife, making their abundance critical to the health of the estuary.

In addition to the Bay-specific cut, the commission also voted to reduce the coastwide catch limit by 9% in 2027 and by another 9% in 2028. The new Bay limit will be linked to the coastwide cap, meaning future adjustments to the overall harvest could directly affect how many menhaden can be taken from the Chesapeake.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which had advocated for an even deeper 50% reduction in the Bay, welcomed the news but said more must be done. The group has raised concerns about declining menhaden populations in some areas and the resulting impact on the predators that depend on them.

"For the Chesapeake Bay, this is a hard-earned win, but it's not the finish line," said Will Poston, the foundation's forage campaign manager. The organization criticized the commission for not going further with coastwide limits, arguing that stronger protections are needed to safeguard the forage fish population across its entire range.

The decision comes as scientists and conservationists continue to monitor the Bay's ecosystem, which faces pressures from pollution, climate change, and fishing. Menhaden are also targeted by a large industrial fishery that reduces the fish to meal and oil, a practice that has drawn scrutiny from local anglers and environmental groups.

The new limits are set to take effect over the next two years, with the commission continuing to evaluate the stock's health.