The Atlantic Menhaden Management Board has approved a total allowable catch for the 2017 fishing season of 200,000 metric tons, a 6.45 percent increase from the 2016 total allowable catch.

According to an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission report, this quota in pounds of 440,924,524 has a zero percent probability of resulting in overfishing.

Virginia’s quota is 168,937.75 metric tons, or 372,443,990 pounds, the report said. Virginia leads all ASMFC states in quota for metric tons and pounds of Atlantic menhaden. ...