October 7, 2008 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 Through September 30, 2008, purse-seine landings of gulf and Atlantic menhaden 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: 1,239,399 1,390,938 -10.9% 1,421,779 -12.8% Total Metric Tons: 376,653 422,706 432,079 Atlantic Menhaden Reedville : Total Standard Fish: 364,172 449,820 -19.0% 394,948 -7.8% Total Metric Tons: 110,672 136,700 120,025 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