menhaden

The reason is simple; the resource that is publicly beneficial is live menhaden, filtering the water by consuming algae.

Here, with menhaden, as long as the private firm can continue to harvest something profitable they will have no incentive not to overfish the menhaden till the stock collapses.

But even if you are not interested in fish, there is an important reason for concern about menhaden’s decline.

The resource that is privately beneficial is dead menhaden, pressed for oil and ground for animal feed.

Fishmeal and fish oil are typically derived from small marine fish like anchovies, sardines, or menhaden.

I hope that the product I bought is one of the 75 that do not deplete the menhaden stock.

The perniciousness of menhaden removals has been widely enough recognized that 13 of the 15 Atlantic states have banned Omega Protein’s boats from their waters.

In fact I haven't even seen a brand of fish oil with menhaden.

I don't know enough about any of this to have an informed opinion, but I do understand that menhaden put Reedville, VA on the map.

Fish oil is usually made from the menhaden fish (aka the alewife fish), which used to be plentiful all around the Atlantic coastline of the US, feeding on algae.

But the company’s toehold in North Carolina and Virginia (where it has its largest processing plant), and its continued right to fish in federal waters, means a half-billion menhaden are still taken from the ecosystem every year.

Quite simply, menhaden keep the water clean...