God's Dominion in Danger

          When we look at the Catholic Social Teachings, it is clear that several are being denied, or at the very least largely ignored in society when it comes to menhaden. A lack of Care for God’s Creation, specifically in the case of menhaden, results in effects on Rights and Responsibilities, Preferential Options for the Poor, The Dignity of Work/Rights of Workers, and even the Life and Dignity of the Human Person. An analysis of scriptures, tradition, and reason gives further insight and support to fight for menhaden. 

          Fish and fishing are common themes in the Bible, not only in a literal sense but in a figurative one as well. In the book of Genesis, God gave man dominion over all the creatures, including fish. In Matthew 4:19, “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’” Throughout their lives, the apostles become fishers of men, bringing people into the Church. During the early days of the Church, fish became the symbol of Christianity. Along with fish and fishing serving as important figures of Christianity, God has also ordered us to protect these priceless creatures. Genesis 2:15 states, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” It is our job to care for and look after God’s creation. In the case of menhaden, petitioning for more fisheries regulation as well as combatting climate change are just two of the countless ways we work to uphold our care for God’s creation and save this keystone species.

          Beyond the Bible, tradition offers clarity and advice towards our approach to environmentally centered issues. The United States Conference of Bishops preaches that as Christians, we have an obligation to care for our environment, the same environment that is home to the menhaden and the countless other species that are dependent on menhaden as a food source. In Renewing the Earth, the US Catholic Bishops proclaim:

“Our mistreatment of the natural world diminishes our own dignity and sacredness, not only because we are destroying resources that future generations of humans need, but because we are engaging in actions that contradict what it means to be human. Our tradition calls us to protect the life and dignity of the human person, and it is increasingly clear that this task cannot be separated from the care and defense of all of creation.”

​

It is clear that by neglecting and ignoring environmental issues, such as the depletion of menhaden, a catastrophic domino effect could occur, and could be on the verge of occurring. This effect would not only hurt the environment but humans too. Without a food source, species that rely on menhaden will suffer. Bluefish and Striped Bass would experience increased levels of mortality due to lack of food and subsequently face increased rates of disease. The fishermen who rely on these predatory species of fish as a food source will lose this source of food when perhaps it was the only easily accessible and affordable source for them. Alongside the denial of Protecting Human Life and Dignity and Options for the Poor and Vulnerable, the Dignity of Work and the Rights and Duties of Workers and Owners have also been largely affected by the depletion of menhaden. In Maine, menhaden shortages have affected the Lobstermen, who rely on menhaden as the source of bait for their lobster pots. Increases in bait prices as a result of menhaden shortages have threatened the jobs of countless lobstermen in the northeast. 
          The most immediate cause of the decline in menhaden is overfishing by companies looking to harvest the menhaden's omega 3 oils. Every year, hundreds of millions of pounds of menhaden are converted into lipstick, salmon feed, paint, “buttery spread,” salad dressing, and omega-3 supplements. While all of these resources are valuable to humans, each of these products can be made with more environmentally sustainable substitutes. Nonetheless, menhaden are still used despite their declining numbers because of the inexpensive catch and processing costs. The effects have become more and more apparent:

“The muddy brown color of the Long Island Sound and the growing dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay are the direct result of inadequate water filtration- a job that was once carried out by menhaden. An adult menhaden can rid four to six gallons of water of algae in a minute. Imagine then the water-cleaning capacity of the half-billion menhaden we “reduce” into oil every year.” - Paul Greenberg, A Fish Oil Story

 

Menhaden have the ability to convert the algae they filter into important compounds, such as omega-3 oils, which get cycled up the food chain as they are eaten by larger species. As a vacuum of the ocean, menhaden can largely be accredited to preventing and mitigating algae blooms through their consumption of the algae. When algae blooms occur, “dead zones” are created. These “dead zones” are areas that do not have enough oxygen to support marine life. 

          Menhaden are critical to both humans and the environment alike. They are quite simply the foundation of the entire saltwater ecosystem in the northeast. Overfishing and climate change have taken a toll on their population. The coastal population of menhaden has declined 88% over the past 25 years. This depletion of “the most important fish in the sea” has directly affected the countless species that rely on menhaden as a food source, the water quality of the estuaries and bays they filter, and the people who depend on species that feed on menhaden as a food source or on menhaden for their jobs. Ultimately, it is clear that something must be done, and it must be done soon. The blatant denial of Care for God’s Creation has had ripple effects on Rights and Responsibilities, Preferential Options for the Poor, The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, and even the Life and Dignity of the Human Person. Looking at scriptures as well as tradition also offers us guidance in how we should act in this situation. As a society, we must recognize this issue and the extent to which it affects everything. Awareness must be raised, and action must be taken.

​