menhaden
noun
men·ha·den men-ˈhā-dᵊn 
mən-
plural menhaden also menhadens
: a marine fish (Brevoortia tyrannus) of the herring family abundant along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. where it is used for bait or converted into oil and fertilizer
also : any of several congeneric fishes
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Scott said to prevent risky shark interactions, avoid swimming in murky waters and in areas where there are schools of menhaden and seals in the water because sharks might be feeding. 
Arijeta Lajka, ajc, 29 July 2022 Quevedo noted that in 2019, New York passed legislation to protect Atlantic menhaden, the main food source for many species like dolphins, whales, tuna, seals, striped bass and sharks. Arijeta Lajka, ajc, 29 July 2022 Bob Glenn of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries said the schools of menhaden first appeared off Plymouth about 10 days ago and have, somewhat unusually, stayed put. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 Quevedo said the upsurge in shark sightings and activity in Long Island is a result of conservation efforts in the area including legislation prohibiting the overfishing of menhaden, or bunker fish. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 21 July 2022 In those cases, there were lots of Atlantic menhaden in the area, which are prey of sharks, and the bites are not believed to have been intentional, the department says. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 14 July 2022 About 50,000 fish, mainly Atlantic menhaden, were found dead near the head waters of Marley Creek on Wednesday, according to a spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2022 Colicchio masterfully swam a live menhaden in the current and large striped bass swirled on the helpless bait. Monte Burke, Forbes, 5 June 2022 For example, big populations of menhaden, a small silver fish, attract humpback whales that feed on them. New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021 See More
Arijeta Lajka, ajc, 29 July 2022 Quevedo noted that in 2019, New York passed legislation to protect Atlantic menhaden, the main food source for many species like dolphins, whales, tuna, seals, striped bass and sharks. Arijeta Lajka, ajc, 29 July 2022 Bob Glenn of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries said the schools of menhaden first appeared off Plymouth about 10 days ago and have, somewhat unusually, stayed put. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2022 Quevedo said the upsurge in shark sightings and activity in Long Island is a result of conservation efforts in the area including legislation prohibiting the overfishing of menhaden, or bunker fish. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 21 July 2022 In those cases, there were lots of Atlantic menhaden in the area, which are prey of sharks, and the bites are not believed to have been intentional, the department says. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 14 July 2022 About 50,000 fish, mainly Atlantic menhaden, were found dead near the head waters of Marley Creek on Wednesday, according to a spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2022 Colicchio masterfully swam a live menhaden in the current and large striped bass swirled on the helpless bait. Monte Burke, Forbes, 5 June 2022 For example, big populations of menhaden, a small silver fish, attract humpback whales that feed on them. New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
of Algonquian origin; akin to Narragansett munnawhatteaûg menhaden
First Known Use
1765, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
menhaden
noun
men·ha·den men-ˈhā-dᵊn
plural menhaden
: a fish of the Atlantic coast of the United States that is related to the herring and is a source of oil and fertilizer