Each spring and summer, Chesapeake Bay comes alive with the sights and sounds of ospreys—majestic fish-eating raptors once brought back from the brink of extinction. But now, these powerful symbols of recovery are facing a new threat: starvation in their nests.

The cause? Overfishing of menhaden, the small oily fish that are the primary food source for osprey chicks.

Researchers have documented alarming patterns: chicks are dying in nests, unable to survive due to a lack of available food. Menhaden populations have been drastically depleted by industrial fishing operations—particularly during the exact months when ospreys are raising their young.

We call on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), NOAA Fisheries, and state leaders in Maryland and Virginia to enact a seasonal moratorium on menhaden fishing in Chesapeake Bay during osprey nesting season (March through August). 

By pausing industrial menhaden harvests during this critical window, we can:

• Give osprey parents time to raise healthy chicks
• Allow menhaden to repopulate sensitive estuarine zones
• Preserve balance for other wildlife including striped bass and dolphins

Ospreys once teetered on the edge of extinction. Thanks to tireless conservation efforts, they made an inspiring comeback. We cannot let our inaction reverse that progress. 

Help save the next generation of ospreys. Sign this petition and demand responsible, seasonal stewardship of our shared coastal ecosystems.