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
Last updated on July, 2025
→ UPSC Notification 2025 was released on 22nd January 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims Result 2025 is out now for the CSE held on 25 May 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 and Unofficial Prelims Answer Key 2025 are available now.
→ UPSC Calendar 2026 is released on 15th May, 2025.
→ The UPSC Vacancy 2025 were released 1129, out of which 979 were for UPSC CSE and remaining 150 are for UPSC IFoS.
→ UPSC Mains 2025 will be conducted on 22nd August 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
→ UPSC Result 2024 is released with latest UPSC Marksheet 2024. Check Now!
→ UPSC Toppers List 2024 is released now. Shakti Dubey is UPSC AIR 1 2024 Topper.
→ Also check Best IAS Coaching in Delhi