Investigating menhaden recruitment variability: Modeling the relationship between striped bass recovery and menhaden recruitment

This newsletter summarizes ongoing development of a model that describes fluctuations in the number of young menhaden within Chesapeake Bay. Using both menhaden spawning stock and striped bass predation potential, the model successfully accounts for most of the variability (~70%) seen in Chesapeake Bay menhaden recruitment. With our ongoing work suggesting that weather patterns can improve the model, this approach appears to have the potential to support ecosystem based management for the Bay's menhaden and striped bass fisheries.

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