Atlantic Menhaden

About Atlantic menhaden: 

• It is a commercially important Atlantic Ocean fish, also known as Fatback, Bunker, Pogie.
• Habitat: They are found in coastal and estuarine waters from Nova Scotia to northern Florida.
• Diet: They are filter feeders, primarily consuming phytoplankton and zooplankton in the water column.
• The disappearance of most of the menhaden from the bay is contributing to the disappearance of the many species that rely on menhaden
• Uses of this fish
  • They are harvested for use as fertilizers, animal feed, and bait for fisheries including blue crab and lobster.
  • They are a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, so they are also used to develop human and animal supplements. 
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least concern
• The disappearance of most of the menhaden from the bay is contributing to the disappearance of the many species that rely on menhaden

Key facts about the Chesapeake Bay

• It is the largest inlet in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the eastern United States.
• It was created by the submergence of the lower courses of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, 
• The southern part of the bay is bordered by Virginia and its northern part by Maryland.

Q1) What is Omega-3 fatty acid?

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are essential for the human body and have several health benefits like Heart Health.

Source: How a tiny fish that fuels an Atlantic ecosystem is at the centre of industry debates

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