January 9, 2009 MEMORANDUM FOR: Industry Members, State, and NMFS Personnel with Special Interest in the Menhaden Fisheries FROM: Joseph W. Smith SUBJECT: Status Purse-Seine Landings of Gulf and Atlantic Menhaden for the 2008 Fishing Season, plus Coastwide Age Compositions1 Final landings for the 2008 gulf and Atlantic menhaden purse-seine fishing seasons for reduction in thousands of "standard fish"2,3 and metric tons (and for 2007 and 2003-2007 five-year average for equivalent time) are as follows: Gulf Menhaden 2008 2007 Change 5-yr average Change Moss Point, Empire, Abbeville, and Cameron combined: Total Standard Fish: 1,399,942 1,493,360 -6.3% 1,538,548 -9.0% Total Metric Tons: 425,442 453,832 467,565 Atlantic Menhaden Reedville4 : Total Standard Fish: 464,406 574,055 -19.1% 545,027 -14.8% Total Metric Tons: 141,133 174,455 165,634 1 See reverse side for coastwide age compositions 2 To convert to pounds, multiply by 670 3 To convert to metric tons, multiply by 0.3039 4 Figure for 5-yr average may include landings at Beaufort, NC Joseph W. Smith Research Fishery Biologist voice: 252-728-8765, fax: 252-728-8619 NOAA, NMFS, 101 Pivers Is. Rd., Beaufort, NC 28516