Menhaden

Menhaden
Four species of menhaden, sometimes called “pogy,” “bunker,” or “mossbunker,” are found in the Western Atlantic. They are fish of the genera Brevoortia and Ethmidium, two genera of marine fish in the family of Clupeidae.

They range from Nova Scotia to Brazil. Menhaden feed on microscopic plants and animals.

They are caught with purse seines when schooling near the surface of the water and removed to the hold of the power boat or carrier vessel. Aboard the boat, they may be held without refrigeration, in which case they will be brought to port within a period of 24 hrs after catching. Boats that keep these fish in refrigerated holds may remain at sea for several days prior landing the catch.

Menhaden are not used for human food. They are processed to produce fish meal and oil in the manner described for herring. In the United States, larger quantities of menhaden are caught (several hundred thousands metric tones) than that of any other fish or shellfish.
Menhaden