09/25/2026
Ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay are struggling to find enough fish to feed their chicks.
The 2026 breeding season has ended, and Osprey nesting success is at its lowest level ever recorded due to a shortage of menhaden, a small, nutrient-rich fish that is an important food source for Ospreys and a foundation of the Chesapeake Bay food web. Mendaden are also the cornerstone of an industry that catches and processes millions of these fish into fishmeal and fish oil.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is considering changes to how menhaden are harvested in the Chesapeake Bay, including options that would reduce the number that can be harvested each year.
Brian Brooks, ABC’s Vice President for Advocacy and Threats Programs said:
“Recent Osprey population surveys tell us we are losing over 5,000 of these amazing birds per year due to a lack of menhaden. Chicks are starving because their parents can’t find enough food, but we can all do something about it. Tell the ASMFC to choose fishery management reforms that give Osprey and menhaden a fighting chance.”
Take action for Ospreys, menhaden, and ecosystems across the Eastern Seaboard:
https://abcbirds.info/4yTGsBg
