Ocean Harvesters Responds to CCB Osprey Reproduction Findings

Ocean Harvesters, a company that owns and operates a fleet of fishing vessels in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of America, has responded to the findings of the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) at William & Mary regarding the 2026 Chesapeake Bay osprey breeding performance. The CCB reported historically low reproductive rates in higher salinity portions of the Bay, attributing widespread nesting failures to food stress.

However, Ocean Harvesters emphasizes that the Center's findings do not establish a direct link between poor osprey reproduction and commercial menhaden fishing. Dr. Bryan Watts, a key figure at CCB, has also made it clear that the paper does not attempt to link poor osprey reproduction to menhaden harvest. The CCB and the U.S. Geological Survey have identified multiple factors that can affect osprey reproductive performance, including storms, heat stress, predation, human disturbance, contaminants, disease, parental condition, brood size, competition for prey, and access to prey.

The timing of the osprey breeding cycle is also a factor. Ospreys return to breeding territories in late February and March, and begin laying eggs in early April. The Virginia commercial purse seine season, which opens on the first Monday in May, did not begin fishing until early June in 2026.

The CCB and the U.S. Geological Survey have observed similar trends in osprey population in other parts of the country, including Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey, Delaware, and on the Pacific Coast in California and Washington. This broader geographic context underscores the need for caution before attributing the Chesapeake Bay observations to a single fishery.

Ocean Harvesters points out that the Center for Conservation Biology and the U.S. Geological Survey have not established that commercial menhaden fishing caused the observed reproductive conditions. The company notes that numerous conservation and recreational fishing advocacy organizations have portrayed these findings as evidence against the commercial menhaden fishery, even though the Center itself has not concluded this.

Ocean Harvesters urges journalists, policymakers, and the public to carefully consider the actual words of the Center for Conservation Biology, Dr. Watts, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The company stresses that these scientific statements should not be confused with or reported as claims and fundraising appeals by special interest organizations that go beyond what the research has established.

Ocean Harvesters, which owns and operates a fleet of more than 30 fishing vessels in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of America, is committed to responsible fishing operations. Its Atlantic and Gulf Menhaden fisheries are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. The company is proud to be a part of a fishing legacy that extends nearly 150 years.