Osprey, once seen as a major conservation success in the United States, are now facing a serious decline in reproductive success around Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. The bird, known for its sharp dives and distinct calls, recovered after the pesticide DDT was banned in 1972. However, studies led by Bryan Watts of the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary revealed that pairs in the bay are now producing fewer than 0.5 chicks per year. According to Watts, the main cause is the reduced availability of menhaden, a small schooling fish that is highly important to young osprey. Menhaden, also called pogies or bunkers, are especially rich in nutrients that support chick growth. Without enough of these fish, many young birds starve, creating what scientists see as an existential risk to the population.

The menhaden fishery is a significant industry worth over $200 million, with companies such as Omega Protein and Ocean Harvesters leading the trade. Menhaden are processed for oil, animal feed, and bait for valuable catches like lobster. Industry groups argued that fishing is sustainable and suggested that other pressures, including pollution, development, and climate change, may contribute to the osprey decline. Environmental groups, however, warned that without precautionary action, osprey could face another steep fall similar to the DDT era. Watts’s research showed that pairs need to raise at least 1.15 chicks each year to maintain population stability, but current numbers are far below this mark. Regulators from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have started to examine new management strategies, such as seasonal closures and quota restrictions. Conservationists urged leaders to act with prescience and scrutiny to secure the bird’s future, while critics accused activists of creating unnecessary contention. The debate highlights the ramifications of balancing economic interests with ecological protection.