January 8, 2025 — A U.S. District Court judge in Manhattan dismissed a case against Cooke Seafood Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates that alleged it defrauded the U.S. in the operation of its East Coast menhaden processing facility in Virginia.
Menhaden, known colloquially as pogies and bunker, are a critically important filter-feeding baitfish in the ocean and estuaries along the East Coast, including here in New Jersey, where they are fed on by whales, birds and economically valuable finfish. While the menhaden are not overfished, the stock has contracted, leading to dust-ups between environmental groups and harvesters over the quota.
In a prepared statement, Cooke Inc. said it’s “pleased that the court has dismissed this baseless lawsuit, which we have always maintained was without merit. For over a decade, the individuals behind this lawsuit have repeatedly targeted menhaden harvesters and processors to undermine a sustainable and essential sector of the fishing industry.”