The Gulf menhaden and our changing estuaries.

A brief review of the role of estuaries in the life cycle of Gulf menhaden, Brevoortia partonus. Estuaries are a vital link in the life of Gulf menhaden. Surveys of 36 selected Gulf coast estuaries give indexes of the relative abundance of juvenile menhaden. These juveniles enter the purse seine fishery the next year and also the year following as 2-year-olds. Record landings of nearly 1.2 billion pounds were made in 1969. Approximately 90% of the catch are menhaden in their second and third year of life.